Men of the Niger State Police Command have arrested 23-year-old Sarah Gonna for allegedly stealing the phones of her employer worth N29 million
The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said three other suspects were also held for allegedly aiding and abetting her to carry out the act.
He said, “A report was received at ‘A’ Division Minna from a shop owner at Obasanjo Complex, Minna who deals on phones. The report indicated that his salesgirl, one Sarah Ogbonna, 23, of Okada Road, Minna was suspected to have been stealing items/phones from his shop entrusted to her. He alleged that she had stolen items worth over N29 million from the shop.”
“Immediately the report was received, police operatives of the Division arrested the said Sarah, and during interrogation, she confessed to the allegation, stating that she had been working in the shop since 2023 and she would not know if what she had taken so far could amount to N29 million, but N700,000 was recovered from her. Her statement led to the arrest of three other accomplices,” the police said.
The accomplices arrested by the police were identified as Ruth Omor Emmanuel, 23, of Tunga, Minna, Mercy Ogbonna, 30, of Okada Road, Minna and Nurudeen Musa, 32, of Obasanjo Complex, Minna.
Abiodun said further investigation “revealed that Sarah made multiple transfers of money to her senior sister Mercy Ogbonna who sorts family challenges on her behalf such as payment of house rents, purchase of food items and other needs for the families.”
He said Ruth Emmanuel was also a salesgirl in the shop and allegedly participated in some of the acts before she left, while Nurudeen Musa usually collects expensive phones from Sarah and sells them at giveaway prices, rendering short payments for a long period of time.
“It was also revealed that Sarah rented and furnished an apartment at Sauka-Kauta area of Minna for her boyfriend; one Samuel Abiodun Bello currently at large, and she also transferred some money to him,” the police spokesperson said.
Abiodun said Sarah equally claimed that she engaged in a weekly financial contribution of N150,000 with a yet-to-be identified online group.
He said all the suspects were still under investigation and the items recovered from Sarah included two Power generating sets, one Smart television set, one Freezer, four wigs of N500,000 each, one gas cylinder, shoes, a pair of canvas, bags, clothes and furniture.