The Niger State Police Command has recorded a series of breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities across the state, leading to the arrest of several suspects involved in vehicle theft, motorcycle snatching, vandalism, and thuggery.
In one of the incidents, police operatives in Mashegu arrested a 32-year-old mechanic, Suleiman Anaba, for stealing a customer’s Toyota Corolla entrusted to him for repairs. The suspect reportedly confessed to dismantling the vehicle for sale in Kontagora. He later led officers to the location where the vehicle was recovered. He has since been charged to court for prosecution.
Similarly, three suspects were apprehended in Mokwa for criminal conspiracy and motorcycle theft. Acting on credible intelligence, police arrested Buhari Usman, who confessed to stealing a motorcycle in Moyo. His accomplices, Abdullahi Suleiman and Aliyu Ibrahim, were subsequently arrested, with two stolen Bajaj motorcycles recovered from them. The suspects have been charged, while efforts are ongoing to trace the rightful owners of the recovered motorcycles.
In another operation, police in Maje Division arrested four individuals for receiving a stolen vehicle. The Toyota Carina-E, earlier stolen in Abuja, was recovered along Kaduna Road where it was being offered for sale. The suspects claimed they purchased the vehicle for ₦850,000 from an unidentified individual who promised to provide documents. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the seller.
The Command also reported cases of vandalism involving electric cables. In Kabo community, suspected vandals fled upon sighting security operatives, abandoning a Honda vehicle and vandalised cables at the scene. Items recovered included mobile phones and identification cards, which are now aiding ongoing investigations.
In a related development, a 20-year-old vigilante member, Abubakar Abdullahi, was arrested in Minna for vandalising electric cables from vehicles at the Trade Fair Complex. He was found in possession of tools and the stolen cables and remains in custody as investigations continue.
Police also foiled a motorcycle snatching attempt along Kaduna Road, where a suspect, Babangida Ali, was arrested after forcefully dispossessing a rider of his motorcycle. The suspect has reportedly provided information on other members of his syndicate, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Central Police Division in Minna arrested 16 suspected miscreants terrorising parts of the city, including Angwan-Sarki and Ogbomosho areas. The suspects were apprehended during a late-night sting operation, with weapons such as cutlasses, sticks, and a saw recovered from them. They are currently under investigation and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for prosecution.
Police Public Relations Officer , SP Wasiu Abiodun, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
