The Nigeria Police Force has arrested eight suspects linked to phone theft, armed robbery, theft of a tricycle and receiving stolen property in separate operations across the state.
The arrests were contained in a release issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun.
According to the statement, operatives attached to Maje Division arrested five suspects involved in a syndicate specialising in stealing mobile phones from unsuspecting motorists along Kaduna Road in Minna.
Police said the case was reported on May 6, 2026, following an incident that occurred on April 24, when a motorist was allegedly deceived by some miscreants who claimed that one of his vehicle tyres was flat.
While the victim stopped to inspect the tyre, the suspects reportedly stole two mobile phones valued at over N200,000 through the vehicle window.
The victim later identified one of the suspects as Yusuf Mukthar, 21, of Kaduna Road, leading to his arrest.
During investigation, Yusuf allegedly confessed to the crime and named other members of the syndicate as Aminu Zubairu, 19, of Karfe-Kaduna; Abba Ibrahim, 20, of Kaduna Road; Yunusa Dauda, 23, of Madala; and Suleiman Hussaini, 24, of Kaduna Road, who was identified as a receiver of stolen items.
Police said all the suspects were arrested, while seven handsets, a knife, cutlass and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
The command added that the suspects had been charged to court for prosecution.
In another operation, police arrested a suspect over the theft of a tricycle valued at about N8 million.
The command said a complaint was received at Maje Division on May 9 from a victim at Auwal Ibrahim Market, Kwamba, who discovered that his newly acquired tricycle with registration number MNA 125 VM had been stolen overnight after it was parked in the market.
Following the report, police operatives launched an investigation and, with the aid of technical intelligence, traced the stolen tricycle to Katsina State.
Detectives reportedly recovered the tricycle in Funtua Local Government Area from one Ghali Bello, 43.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly claimed that he received the tricycle from one Sani of Kwamba Motor Park, who is currently at large.
However, further investigation revealed that Ghali Bello worked at the same market and had acted as guarantor to the victim during the hire purchase arrangement for the tricycle before allegedly stealing it and moving it to Katsina State.
Police said the suspect and the recovered tricycle are currently in custody for further investigation.
Similarly, operatives attached to Maitumbi Division arrested two suspects over an armed robbery incident at a hotel around the Maitumbi area of Minna.
The suspects, identified as Abba Umar, 28, and Zakariya Abubakar, 23, both residents of Sabon-Titi, Minna, were alleged to have stormed the hotel armed with dangerous weapons and robbed guests of mobile phones and other valuables.
Police said the suspects were arrested with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, operatives attached to Mokwa Division intercepted one Hussaini Mohammed, 27, of Guye-Doko village via Kwara State with a Bajaj motorcycle suspected to be stolen property.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that the motorcycle belonged to his father and that he was travelling to Kontagora to sell it without his father’s consent.
The father was later contacted by the police, while the suspect was subsequently charged to court for prosecution.
