Court sentences youths to three years imprisonment for burgling mosque

An Area Court in Jos on Friday sentenced four youths to three years imprisonment each for burgling a mosque in Sarkin-Mangu area of the city.

The convicts are Ibrahim Mohammed, Kamalu Aliyu, Yusuf Abdullahi and Ali Adams.

They were arraigned for burgling the mosque where they carted away an electricity generating set and other electrical appliances valued at N200, 000.

Delivering judgment on the matter, the presiding judge, Mrs Mary Izang, said that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecuting police officer, Mr Mubas Rafan, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug. 4 at about 2.00 a.m.

Rafan said one Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi of Sarkin Mangu Street in Jos had reported to C – Division police station on Aug. 5 that the accused committed the offence.

“The three accused conspired and broke into a mosque and stole a generator and other electrical appliances in the mosque.

“After the theft, the accused took the stolen properties to one Adams who concealed them in his house,” he said.

The prosecutor said that the accused committed an offence contrary to sections 97, 287, and 319 of the Penal Code.

The accused persons had pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency, saying that “ it was the work of the devil.’’ (NAN)