The Niger State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in its fight against crime, with the arrest of 18 suspects for various offences, including illegal mining, armed robbery, transformer theft, and the recovery of stolen pharmaceutical products.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, the arrests were made across Minna and Suleja following intelligence-led operations by Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and their teams.
On August 18, 2025, operatives of the Central Police Station, Minna, stormed an illegal mining site around the mechanic bye-pass and arrested four suspects — Samaila Nuhu (20), Ahmad Mohammed (17), Musa Aliyu (20), and Umar Salihu (47). Items recovered from the scene included three diggers, six shovels, and 10 headpans. Other accomplices fled as monitoring continues.
In a related development, on August 19, four suspects were arrested in connection with a violent robbery that occurred at Fadama Mandela Road, Sauka-Kahuta, Minna. Victims reported that about 16 robbers attacked them on August 18, carting away a handset valued at ₦75,000, ₦158,000 cash, foodstuffs, and other items. One victim was stabbed in the leg during the attack. Arrested suspects — Mamud Mohammed, Abubakar Musa, Amadu Umar, and Abdulkadir Suleiman were identified by the victims. Recovered exhibits included SIM cards from the stolen phone, screwdrivers, knives, cutlasses, and charms.
Similarly, six suspects were apprehended for conspiracy and theft of a 300KVA transformer. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from Maje Division intercepted a yellow truck conveying the transformer along Kaduna Road in the early hours of August 21. The suspects, identified as Mustapha Haladu (28), Abubakar Ibrahim (26), Aliyu Sadi (32), Isya Yusha’u (28), Usama Abdullahi (20), and Usman Suleiman (25), failed to provide proof of ownership. Investigations revealed plans to dismantle and sell the transformer in parts.
In another operation, police operatives in Suleja recovered eight cartons of pharmaceutical products, including Amodiaquine, Sulfadoxine, and Pyrimethamine, abandoned in Sandaco area on August 19. The recovered drugs are currently under investigation to determine their source and ownership.
The command assured the public that all the suspects will be charged to court after investigations, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing accomplices.
