GOMBE, Nigeria – The Gombe State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Hannatu Ibrahim, on charges of stealing $35,000 (approximately N53.5 million) from her Syrian employer and setting his house on fire.
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the Command’s spokesperson, confirmed that two other suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged crime.
Ibrahim, a cook employed by Syrian expatriate Mohammed Jurdi of Triacter Nigeria Limited, allegedly stole the money before also setting fire to her employer’s residence.
The incident came to light after Jurdi reported the theft to the police on Saturday, claiming Ibrahim had stolen $35,000 and set his house ablaze.
Upon receiving the report, a police patrol team from Gombe Division swiftly acted and arrested Ibrahim, who was found in possession of $7,100 in cash.
Further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects, one of whom was found with a $100 note that had allegedly been received from Ibrahim.
A total of $7,200 was recovered as evidence. Abdullahi confirmed that the case would soon be taken to court once investigations were completed.
In a separate incident, the Gombe Police Command rescued a 22-year-old housewife, Amina Hussaini, who had been abducted and held captive for five days.
On March 19, a formal complaint was received from Amina’s husband, Usaini Magaji, who reported that six armed men had invaded his residence in Wuro-Waila, Kumo, abducted his wife, and shot into the air to intimidate the family.
Police officers from the Akko Divisional Police Headquarters, led by CSP Chama Yakubu, responded to the complaint and recovered two empty shells of single-barrel cartridges at the scene.
Officers launched an investigation and raided black spots in the area, eventually tracking down the abductors.
After heavy pressure from the police, the suspects released Amina on Tuesday at around 3:00 p.m. before fleeing into the bush.
Amina has since been reunited with her family after receiving medical attention, and the police are intensifying efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the abduction.
Abdullahi also announced the arrest of five additional suspects involved in various crimes in the state, including criminal conspiracy, motorcycle theft, and possession of a locally made pistol.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police or other security agencies.
The police spokesperson reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in tackling crime.
