Gombe: Police burst eight-member criminal syndicate linked to armed robbery, internet fraud

The Gombe State Police Command has recorded a major success in its ongoing fight against criminality, with the arrest of an eight-member criminal syndicate linked to armed robbery and internet fraud.

The disclosure was made by the command through its PPRO, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, in a statement he released to journalists on Sunday. 

According to him, on 7th June, 2026, at about 0830 hours, a complaint was lodged at Operations Hattara by one Hassan Muhammad and Jibril Hassan, both of Wuro Birji Quarters, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, alleging that unknown persons armed with cutlasses broke into their residences and dispossessed them of their mobile phones.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects subsequently used information obtained from the stolen phones to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ bank accounts. 

The suspects fraudulently withdrew the sum of ₦296,790.00 from the GTBank account of one of the victims and further obtained and withdrew a Quick Loan amounting to the sum of ₦205,205.00.

Acting on credible intelligence and following painstaking technical analysis of the fraudulent transactions, operatives successfully traced one transaction to a Moniepoint account, which led to the arrest of the first suspect, Mustapha Kabiru, alias ‘Musty Bobo,’ 19 years, an ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo, on 29th June, 2026, at about 1730 hours.

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During the interview, the suspect confessed to having used information obtained from stolen mobile phones to access victims’ bank accounts and perpetrated fraudulent transactions. 

His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven additional suspects.

Investigations further revealed that the syndicate had participated in more than thirteen similar incidents across Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala, and Jauro Jatau communities within the state.

Investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are being intensified to apprehend other syndicate members who are currently at large.

The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Umar Ahmed Chuso, commends the diligence of the operatives involved in the investigation and reiterates the command’s unwavering commitment to tackling all forms of criminality, including cybercrime and violent offenses. 

He further urged members of the public to remain vigilant, adequately secure their personal information and digital devices, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.