The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hadiza Ibrahim, over alleged involvement in serial shoplifting, recovering stolen items valued at more than ₦10.1 million.
The command said the arrest followed a report lodged on March 4, 2026, by the Chief Security Officer of Green House in Katsina, after the suspect was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) stealing items from a shop within the premises.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the suspect was subsequently placed under surveillance based on the CCTV footage, leading to her arrest.
Police said a search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of a large quantity of stolen goods, including 274 sets of shoes, 37 pairs of veils, 67 sets of sportswear, 54 sets of children’s wear, 123 pairs of caps, 315 sets of socks, and 45 women’s wrappers.
Other recovered items include nine handbags, three cartons of spaghetti, 24 bottles of perfume, five cartons of soap, a bag containing assorted fashion jewellery, and a sack filled with cooking seasonings and spices.
The police added that the recovered items have been identified by their rightful owners, as more affected shop owners came forward during the investigation. Authorities also revealed that the suspect confessed to the crime and has a history of similar offences.
The suspect has since been charged to court for prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police in the state commended officers involved in the operation and urged shop owners to remain vigilant and adopt measures to safeguard their businesses. He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
