A court in Bauchi State has sentenced eight persons to eight years’ imprisonment each for thuggery and disturbance of public peace in Unguwar Dim, Bauchi metropolis.
The convicts were also given the option of paying a ₦370,000 fine each, according to the Bauchi State Police Command.
Police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said the arrests followed a complaint by the Unguwar Dim Peace and Security Committee on October 14 over renewed thuggery in the area.
A joint team of police operatives and community security personnel reportedly raided a suspected hideout in the early hours of October 15, arresting nine persons.
The operation led to the recovery of machetes, cutlasses, knives, sticks and suspected illicit substances.
Habib said eight suspects were subsequently charged to court and convicted after pleading guilty to the charges.
The state Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, welcomed the judgment and urged residents to provide credible information to help security agencies tackle thuggery and other criminal activities across Bauchi State.