The Niger State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its fight against crime with the arrest of multiple suspects, recovery of stolen items, rescue of abducted victims and dismantling of a child trafficking syndicate across different parts of the state.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the Command confirmed that two suspects were arrested for criminal conspiracy, housebreaking and armed robbery following a November 12 attack in the Gurara area of Minna, where armed robbers dispossessed a resident of a laptop, mobile phones and other valuables worth over ₦758,000. The suspects were apprehended through technical intelligence, confessed to the crime, and the stolen items were recovered. They have since been charged to court.
In another operation, four suspects were arrested for conspiracy, theft and receipt of stolen property involving ten 20-litre kegs of groundnut oil stolen from a shop in Kasuwan-Gwari Market, Minna. Police recovered all the stolen items and arrested one receiver. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue ahead of prosecution.
The Command also announced the arrest of two suspected phone snatchers in Bosso, Minna, with two stolen handsets recovered. The suspects reportedly specialized in stealing phones from unsuspecting passengers in tricycles and were promptly charged to court.
Similarly, one suspect was arrested in connection with attempted homicide and armed robbery after a commercial motorcyclist was attacked and robbed of his motorcycle in Maje. The motorcycle was recovered, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspect’s accomplice who is currently at large. The victim is receiving medical treatment.
In a related development, two abducted young women from Kubwa, FCT, were rescued after being found abandoned along the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway. The victims, who were reportedly drugged and held captive by their abductors, were treated and reunited with their families. Investigation into the abduction is ongoing.
The Police Command further disclosed that three additional children were rescued in a follow-up operation on an earlier child trafficking case. The children, aged between one and 13 years, were recovered from Benin City and Abuja after investigations revealed they were trafficked and sold for millions of naira.
All rescued children have been reunited with their parents, while additional suspects linked to the syndicate have been charged to court.
Confirming the developments, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.
