Two separate incidents of theft and attempted theft have been reported at mosques in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the Ramadan period, leading to arrests and a conviction. These events highlight the vigilance of local security operatives and the ongoing challenges of petty crime targeting religious institutions.

In Gwagwalada Area Council, vigilantes successfully apprehended a man identified as Jamilu Usman for allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle from a mosque in the Unguwar Dodo area. The incident occurred on a Tuesday around 1:34 am during Tahajjud prayers. According to Ibrahim Danjuma, a member of the vigilante group, Usman had joined the prayers but later stepped out, feigning the need to ease himself. Once outside, he allegedly attempted to steal a motorcycle parked within the mosque premises. Vigilantes had been deployed to monitor the area due to a recent spike in motorcycle thefts, with three bikes reportedly missing from the mosque since the start of Ramadan Tahajjud prayers. Usman was caught as he tried to move the bike away, having already damaged the ignition. Two master keys were found in his pocket when he was searched. He was subsequently handed over to local security operatives, and a police source confirmed an ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, in Wuse II, Abuja, a Magistrates’ Court ordered businessman Musa Ibrahim to sweep the Amir Mosque premises for one month after he pleaded guilty to charges of mischief and theft. Magistrate Lami Sani handed down the sentence after Ibrahim confessed to stealing electrical cables from the mosque. Prosecution Counsel, A.A. Adeleju, informed the court that Ibrahim had trespassed into the mosque on March 5, under the pretense of collecting Ramadan food. While others were queuing for meals, he used a back door to remove the mosque’s electric cables, which were valued at N2 million. The cables were successfully recovered during police investigations, and Ibrahim had begged for leniency before his sentencing.

These incidents underscore the importance of community vigilance and the decisive actions taken by authorities to address criminal activities, particularly within sacred spaces during periods of heightened religious observance.