3 nabbed for stealing solar batteries

Ramadan: Prices of essential commodities rise in Jalingo

Three youths have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Gujungu community in Taura LGA of Jigawa State for allegedly stealing solar streetlight batteries.

In a statsement, the command’s spokesman, Adamu Shehu, said the suspects: Umar Adam Abdullahi (18), Kabiru M. Musa (25) and Shafi’u Hamza (25), “connived and stole solar streetlight batteries on Hadejia Road in Gujungu.”

“At the time of their arrest, they were in possession of two Roy 12V/150Ah solar batteries and a charge controller which were neatly removed from the streetlight trunks valued at N320,000.”

He further said that investigation revealed that there were a total of 130 solar streetlights on the major roads in the town out of which 23 had their batteries stolen.

It’s said the suspects confessed to the crime and would be charged to court after investigation was concluded.

The prices of essential commodities have gone up in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, three days into the 2023 Ramadan fasting.

A market survey revealed that the prices of rice, beans, sugar, millet, palm oil and cooking oils have gone up.

A measure of locally processed rice which sold for N1,100 before the beginning of fasting now goes for between N1,500 and N1,700. A measure of sugar sold N1,500 last week now goes for N1,700 to N1,800.

Similarly, the prices of fruits, vegetables, eggs, among several other items, have gone up.

Following the development, residents expressed dismay.

A resident, Saidu Bello, who accused traders of increasing the prices, said it had always been the practice among them.

He said, “Ramadan is a special month to Muslims; when the rich are supposed to assist the needy and traders to lower down their prices, but in Jalingo, traders always take advantage of Ramadan to exploit people.”

A trader, Yakubu Sani, said it was not true that traders used the fasting period to exploit people, explaining that the increases were as a result of increases by dealers and the cost of transportation.