By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Police Command has announced several major breakthroughs in its ongoing efforts to comba...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Police Command has announced several major breakthroughs in its ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state. Among the latest successes are the arrest of multiple suspects involved in armed robbery, conspiracy, vehicle theft, and kidnapping.
On May 4, 2025, at about 12:30 a.m., operatives attached to the Tafa Division arrested three suspects at Dikko Junction in possession of a suspected stolen white Toyota Camry. The suspects were identified as Umar Mukhtar (25), Shuaibu Ahmed (30), both of Okada Road, Minna, and Mohammed Ibrahim Abba (25) of Tafa, Kaduna State.
During interrogation, Mukhtar confessed that on May 3, around 8 p.m., he and Shuaibu were led by one Mustapha of Angwan-Kaje, Minna, to a house in Bosso Estate for a robbery operation. According to Mukhtar, Mustapha was armed with a toy gun, while he and Shuaibu carried screwdrivers. They demanded money from the victims, but when none was found, they intercepted the wife of the homeowner who drove in during the incident and snatched her vehicle with registration number KNT 785 SN.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Mukhtar and Shuaibu drove off in the stolen car while Mustapha locked the victims in the toilet to prevent them from alerting others. Mustapha then directed them to meet Mohammed Abba at Dikko Junction, who was to help transport the vehicle to Kaduna for resale.
The stolen vehicle has since been recovered, and the suspects are under investigation. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Mustapha, who remains at large.
In a separate incident, police operatives attached to the Maje Division arrested two suspects involved in tricycle theft. The suspects, Abdulaziz Salisu (19) of Madalla, Suleja, and Abubakar Mohammed of Chachi village, Sabon-Wuse, were apprehended on May 3 at about 2:30 p.m. following credible intelligence.
Investigations revealed that Abdulaziz stole a tricycle (Reg. No. GUS 16 VC) from a mosque in Dakwa during early morning prayers on May 2. He fled while the congregation was praying and was later intercepted by police during a stop-and-search operation at Maje Bridge. He confessed to stealing the tricycle and planning to hand it over to Abubakar for transportation to Katsina State, where a buyer awaited.
The police also paraded seven robbery suspects arrested in connection with a violent attack in Suleja. On May 1, around 6 p.m., operatives from 'B' Division, Suleja, acting on a tip-off, responded to a robbery at APC Quarters, where several victims were dispossessed of phones and valuables. Mubarak Mohammed (16) was arrested at the scene and later led the police to six other members of the gang.
The suspects include gang leader Ibrahim Mohammed (20) of Guaraka, Abdullahi Yakubu (18), Mohammed Abubakar (18), Nasiru Musa (17), Shamsudeen Musa (18), and Ahmed Ali—all from the Galadima area of FCT, Abuja.
Items recovered from their hideout under a mango tree along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway include six cutlasses, three torchlights, charms, 14 mobile phones, and four bags. All suspects are currently under investigation and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further action.
In another development, the Command rescued seven kidnapped victims in Mashegu Local Government Area. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on May 3 at about 7 a.m., suspected kidnappers attacked Tungan-Boka and Masaha villages, abducting seven individuals and fatally shooting one Garba Mohammed.
Later that same day, a combined team of police and vigilantes led by the Divisional Police Officer launched a rescue operation and engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel in a nearby forest. The abducted victims were successfully rescued unhurt, while the suspects fled the scene. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing criminals.
SP Abiodun reaffirmed the Command's commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Niger State and called on the public to continue supporting law enforcement through timely and credible information.
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