Niger police intensify crackdown on crime, arrest suspects

The Niger State Police Command has arrested 27 suspected criminals in separate operations across Minna and Mokwa as part of its sustained efforts to combat crime and restore public safety in the state.

The suspects were arrested for offences ranging from criminal conspiracy, possession of dangerous weapons, thuggery, armed robbery, theft, and unlawful possession of illicit substances.

Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued in Minna, the state capital.

According to him, police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division conducted coordinated sting operations on July 4 and 5, raiding identified criminal hideouts at Kafintella, Sauka-Kahuta and Building Materials Road in Minna.

He said that 10 suspects were arrested during the operation with dangerous weapons, including a long curved sickle, a digger, a shovel and sticks.

Abiodun said the suspects confessed during interrogation that they had travelled from Yobe State to Minna for illegal mining activities.

He added that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, for further investigation.

In another operation carried out between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on July 6, operatives attached to ‘A’ Division raided criminal hideouts in the PZ area, Angwan-Kaje, Saiko, Abdulsalam Quarters, Tudun-Natsira and Paida, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects.

Among those arrested was a notorious and wanted thug identified as Abdulkarim Mohammed, popularly known as “Na-Kareemu,” who had allegedly been evading arrest over previous criminal activities.

The police recovered four cutlasses, two knives, cannabis and other illicit substances from the suspects, who are currently under investigation.

In a related development, police patrol officers attached to Tudun-Wada Division recovered a stolen Bajaj motorcycle during a routine patrol around the Highpoint area of Minna at about 3:00 a.m. on July 7.

According to the command, the suspected thief abandoned the motorcycle and fled upon sighting the patrol team.

The owner later identified and reclaimed the recovered motorcycle, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Also on July 7, police operatives attached to Mokwa Division arrested five suspects for allegedly stealing 17 goats.

The suspects were intercepted while loading the animals into a Toyota Corolla along the Mokwa bypass.

Police investigations revealed that the goats had been stolen within Mokwa town and were being transported to Bida for sale.

Some of the owners later identified their animals, which were subsequently returned, while the suspects are expected to be charged to court after investigations.

The command also arrested two suspected armed robbers and phone snatchers around the M.I. Wushishi Estate/Living Faith Junction in Minna.

The suspects, aged 18 and 20, were apprehended while riding a motorcycle.

Recovered from them were a sharp cutlass, a face mask, suspected cannabis, other illicit substances, jewellery and N22,000 cash.

They are undergoing preliminary investigation before being transferred to the SCID for prosecution.

In another case, police arrested a 21-year-old suspect for allegedly stealing Point-of-Sale (POS) machines from a shop along Bakin-Iku, Kaduna Road, Minna.

The suspect allegedly visited the shop pretending to purchase an item before swapping the shop’s POS terminal with another one in his possession.

Police recovered three POS machines and three ATM cards from him.

Abiodun said the suspect claimed he was travelling from Auchi to Jigawa State when he decided to commit the crime.

Similarly, police arrested an 18-year-old suspect over the alleged theft of money belonging to his uncle, a foodstuff trader in Kwamba.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly stole money from the victim on several occasions by hiding in the kitchen until the victim fell asleep before escaping through the ceiling after taking the cash.

The suspect reportedly confessed to stealing about N1.5 million, while police recovered N330,000 from him.

Two other suspects were also arrested for allegedly assisting him in spending the proceeds of the crime, and four mobile phones were recovered during the investigation.

The police spokesman said all the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.