By Awwal Umar Kontagora Police operatives in Niger State have arrested a serving soldier, Private Sadiq Sani, for alleged armed...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Police operatives in Niger State have arrested a serving soldier, Private Sadiq Sani, for alleged armed robbery and causing grievous bodily harm to a Minna-based businessman, Abdulrahman Salihu.
The incident reportedly occurred on the day of Eid-el-Fitr, when the suspect visited Abdulrahman's shop under the pretense of purchasing a set of shirts. After the transaction, the soldier requested the shop owner's bank account details, claiming he would make a transfer.
Sources revealed that the suspect sent a fake bank alert in an attempt to fraudulently obtain the items. When Abdulrahman insisted on confirming the payment before releasing the goods, Private Sani allegedly drew a sharp knife and launched a brutal attack on him, inflicting multiple deep cuts and severing one of his arms.
Eyewitnesses reported that the suspect fled the scene to his residence in the Limawa area of Minna. Efforts by nearby residents to apprehend him proved futile.
He was later tracked down by heavily armed officers from the Central Divisional Police Command. Upon confrontation, the suspect reportedly engaged the officers in a violent scuffle before being subdued and taken into custody.
Police sources further revealed that Private Sani is a known habitual offender, with past involvement in phone snatching and alleged connections to criminal gangs operating in Minna. It was also disclosed that a retired Brigadier General, said to be his uncle, facilitated his enlistment into the Nigerian Army three years ago, despite his alleged criminal background.
The Military Police unit of the 313 Artillery Brigade, led by Captain U.S. Ibrahim, has taken over the investigation. The suspect is expected to be transferred to Defence Headquarters in Abuja for a court martial.
“We are taking him to Defence Headquarters for court martial and possible dismissal from service. He will then be returned to the police for prosecution in a civilian court,” Captain Ibrahim confirmed.
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