The Niger State Police Command has recorded significant success in its ongoing fight against crime with the arrest of several suspects involved in impersonation, motorcycle snatching, drug trafficking, thuggery, kidnapping, and armed robbery across different parts of the state.
In a press release issued on January 25, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Command disclosed that a dismissed police officer and serial impostor, Haruna Haggai, was arrested in Minna for allegedly posing as a policeman to dispossess a motorcyclist of his motorcycle and extort money.
Haggai, a 30-year-old resident of Sauka-Kahuta, was arrested on January 16, 2026, following technical intelligence. He was accused of intercepting a motorcyclist along Kpakungu Road on January 14, impersonating a police officer, intimidating the rider, and extorting N150,000 before fleeing with the motorcycle.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force in 2017/2018 and had earlier been arrested in October 2025 for a similar offence in which he impersonated an EFCC official and extorted N400,000. He was later released through an alternative dispute resolution process. The recovered motorcycle is currently in police custody, while the suspect is undergoing further investigation and will be charged to court.
In another operation, police operatives attached to Sarkin-Pawa Division arrested ten suspects between January 19 and 22, 2026, for alleged possession and sale of illicit drugs, including tramadol tablets and suspected cannabis.
Those arrested include Mubarak Aliyu, Abubakar Idris, Kabiru Aliyu, Sabiu Mohammed, Abubakar Mustapha, Aminu Aliyu, Anas Magaji, and Hakilu Haruna, all from Sabon-Gari area. Two others, Danjuma Jagaba and Alka Samari, were arrested for criminal intimidation and causing grievous harm. All suspects have been charged to court accordingly.
Similarly, on January 8, 2026, police in Suleja arrested a 16-year-old suspect, Usman Aliyu, in the Kantoma area for alleged possession of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs. He was found with four cutlasses, a jackknife, and six sachets of illicit tablets and was later arraigned in court.
Furthermore, three suspects — Mamman Bello (18), Ibrahim Adamu (20), and Umar Abubakar (25) were arrested on January 16, 2026, in connection with suspected kidnapping and armed robbery.
Bello and Adamu were apprehended in Ilorin, Kwara State, following intelligence that some suspected kidnappers had relocated to forests in Patigi. They reportedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations and are currently undergoing further investigation.
Umar Abubakar was arrested in Garatu for his alleged role in an armed robbery in Beji, where victims were dispossessed of two mobile phones and a motorcycle. He confessed to the crime and revealed that the stolen motorcycle was sold for N600,000 at Tunga-Mallam, with proceeds shared among gang members. Police are making efforts to arrest other members of the syndicate.
SP Wasiu Abiodun reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Niger State and urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies.
He assured residents that all suspects would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in line with the law.
