Operatives of the Yobe Police Command have arrested a couple, Abdullahi Ibrahim and Khadija Ali, for allegedly stealing a motorcycle belonging to a Muslim cleric in Fika Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement by DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the command spokesman, in Damaturu.

He said Mr Ibrahim, 21, and Mrs Ali, 20, on June 4 approached the cleric because they said they wanted to convert to Islam.

“The suspects presented themselves as Jude Emmanuel, a Birom man from Farar-Kasa in Barkin Ladi, Plateau and his wife posed as Peace Sunday.

“They were subsequently accepted and converted to Islam and, as such, placed in the custody of the Chief Imam in Fika local government area for teaching and proper guidance.

“A day later, Abdullahi informed the Imam that needed ashes from a thunder strike spot to prepare a concoction for his ailments.

“The Imam assigned one of his sons to take him to a nearby bush. Having gotten there, the suspect collected some dust.

“On the third day, he requested to be taken to the spot to collect some dust for his wife. The Imam obliged and asked his son to help them get there with his motorcycle.

“On the spot, the culprits robbed the Imam’s son of his motorcycle and fled,” Mr Abdulkarim said.

The spokesman said the matter was later reported to the Fika Divisional Police Headquarters, where efforts were made to trail the culprits for prosecution.

On July 1, he said, information reached the police division that the couple was sighted in Biu LGA of Borno, about to perpetrate a similar act.

“Fortunately, on July 5 at 1400hrs, detectives  from the division reacted and apprehended the suspects.

“Meanwhile, preliminary investigations revealed that they are indigenes of Yobe,” he said.

Mr Abdulkarim said the suspects have since confessed to committing crimes including robbery and abduction against unsuspecting members of the public.

The spokesman advised residents to always report strangers to the police for proper investigation.

(NAN)