Robbers Steal Phones, Empty Victims’ Bank Accounts, Obtain Loans — Gombe Police

Gombe State Police Command said it has arrested eight suspects allegedly involved in armed robbery and internet fraud across parts of the state.

The Command spokesman, DSP Buhari Abdullahi disclosed this on Sunday while announcing the arrest of the criminal syndicate.

He explained that the suspects invaded two homes allegedly stolen mobile phones, used the information stored on the devices to gain unauthorized access to victims’ bank accounts and obtain instant digital loans.

According to DSP Buhari, the case began on June 7, 2026, after two residents of Wuro Birji community in Akko Local Government Area, reported that armed men wielding cutlasses had broken into their homes and carted away their mobile phones.

He said police investigations later uncovered that the stolen devices were used to access one victim’s GTBank account without authorization. The suspects allegedly withdrew N296,790 from the account before obtaining a Quick Loan worth N205,205, which was also withdrawn.

DSP Buhari added that the breakthrough came after investigators tracked one of the fraudulent transactions to a Moniepoint account through technical analysis, leading to the arrest of the first suspect, 19-year-old Mustapha Kabiru, also known as “Musty Bobo,” an ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.

Police said the suspect confessed during interrogation to using information obtained from stolen mobile phones to perpetrate fraudulent banking transactions. His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven other suspected members of the syndicate.

He said investigators further linked the group to more than 13 similar cases of armed robbery and cyber-enabled fraud in Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala and Jauro Jatau communities.

The Police Command said investigations are continuing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate who remain at large.