The Yobe State Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected bandit kingpin in connection with a deadly robbery at Ngalda Market in Fika Local Government Area. The suspect was apprehended with a locally made pistol and three cartridges, according to a statement issued in Damaturu on Tuesday by the command’s spokesman, SP Dungus Abdulkarim.
The arrest followed a robbery on Monday night that left seven people dead and 11 others injured. “On January 20, 2025, at approximately 2100hrs, a group of six armed robbers attacked three shops at Ngalda Market,” Abdulkarim revealed. “The incident resulted in seven fatalities and eleven injuries. The robbers made off with approximately N16,500,000.”
In the immediate aftermath, irate youths in the area mobilized to counter the attackers, neutralizing three of the robbers on the spot. The remaining three managed to escape with injuries.
Emergency responders evacuated the injured victims and the bodies of the deceased to the General Hospital, Fika, for treatment and autopsy.
Meanwhile, Yobe’s Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed, has directed a full-scale investigation into the incident. “He tasked personnel to arrest fleeing syndicate members and urged the public to assist the command with credible information,” Abdulkarim added.
The police have assured residents of intensified efforts to restore calm and bring all perpetrators to justice.
