The Niger State Police Command has recorded notable achievements in its ongoing efforts to rid the state of crime, including the arrest of a dismissed soldier who went on a spree of fraud and impersonation across different locations in the state.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspect, Michael Musa of Mandela Road, Minna, was arrested after multiple cases of fraud, impersonation, and theft were traced to him. The suspect, who posed as a serving military personnel, had reportedly visited several Point-of-Sale (POS) operators at different times specifically on 12th, 23rd, and 29th May 2025 in Bida, Kataeregi, and Minna respectively. Dressed in military camouflage, he deceitfully collected cash sums of ₦120,000, ₦300,000, and ₦50,000 under false pretenses before fleeing.
Following the referral of the case to the Tudun-Wada Division from a magistrate court, police detectives swung into action and, through technical intelligence, arrested Musa. During interrogation, he confessed to the crimes and disclosed that he had been dismissed from military service in 2022 in Benin, Edo State. As the investigation progresses, more victims are coming forward with similar complaints.
In another breakthrough, the police also arrested two young men, Ibrahim Sheriff (18) of Kuki village in Katsina State and Hamisu Dalhatu (25) of Furakirke in Sokoto State, both residents of Maje, for conspiracy, criminal intimidation, and attempted kidnapping. The suspects reportedly threatened one Samaila via phone calls, demanding a ₦30 million ransom or face abduction. They were apprehended through intelligence-led tracking, and the phone and SIM card used in making the threat calls were recovered.
Similarly, an attempt to rustle cattle in Goi village near Gwagwalada, FCT, was thwarted after the Gawu-Babangida Division received credible intelligence. The suspects, Bello Lawal and Isah Umar, were apprehended in separate locations Izom and Goi villages and found with three locally fabricated revolver guns and two live cartridges. One of the suspects claimed the weapons were procured from Zaria for vigilante duties.
In a separate incident on 31st May 2025, the police recovered a stolen Toyota RAV4 vehicle within hours after it was reported missing from Shiroro Road in Minna. The car owner had briefly left the vehicle to make photocopies of documents when it was stolen. Thanks to the prompt circulation of the report across divisions, police officers at a stop-and-search point in Maje intercepted the vehicle and arrested the suspect, Yushau Hamza (32) of Kofar-Dibi, Katsina State. He confessed to being part of a syndicate that operate by stealing vehicles and dropping them off at designated locations. According to his confession, he had moved vehicles across Zaria, Kaduna, Funtua, and Minna in similar fashion.
In a crackdown on drug-related activities, the Central Police Division in Minna led a successful midnight raid on black spots around Paida, Sabon-Gari, Gwari Market, and Abdulsalam Quarters on 1st June 2025. The operation, carried out in collaboration with vigilante groups, led to the arrest of twelve suspects and the recovery of five bags of suspected cannabis from a residence in Abdulsalam Quarters. One Saifulahi Abubakar (18) was caught in possession of the drugs and claimed they belonged to a suspect identified as Dahiru, who is currently on the run. Other suspects arrested during the raid, including Alhassan Yusuf (25), Abubakar Shehu (20), and Hashiru Hamza (20), are already known to the police and have pending cases.
SP Wasiu Abiodun reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its intelligence-driven operations and warned criminals that Niger State will remain hostile to all forms of criminality. He added that all arrested suspects are under investigation and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
