The Niger State Police Command has recorded a series of major operational breakthroughs, including the successful reunion of 35 rescued kidnapped victims with their families, the arrest of a ten-member human trafficking syndicate, and the apprehension of three suspects for conspiracy, house-breaking, and theft.
In a press briefing held on Monday, July 29, 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation, DCP Ibrahim Adamu, officially handed over the rescued victims to the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Hon. Ayuba Usman Katako, for onward reunification with their families.
The victims comprised 16 women and 19 children were abducted from Kagara, Tegina, and Agwara areas but have since been under Police protective custody, receiving care, counselling, and deradicalization support from the State Government.
According to the Commissioner, the rescue operation began on July 3, 2025, following credible intelligence about the movement of bandits relocating from Birnin-Gwari. Police operatives acted swiftly, intercepted the first batch of victims in Agwara while attempting to cross a river. Subsequent operations led to the rescue of additional victims along the Mekujeri-Tegina road and in other locations.
A driver, identified as Yusuf Abdullahi of Birnin-Gwari, who was allegedly transporting some of the victims, was arrested and is currently under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for possible collaboration with the kidnappers.
In another development, the Command arrested a ten-man suspected human trafficking syndicate operating from 123 Quarters, Minna. The suspects mostly nationals from neighbouring West African countries were arrested on July 18, 2025, following a tip-off.
The suspects included:
Sokou Doumbia
Thiarno Balbe
Hashimu Dauda Kolo (Nigerian collaborator)
Usman Doumbia
Musa Konate
Lamine Watara
Racine Diouf
Adamu Zarbu
Alhassan Konde
Dango Aminatu
Thirty-six victims from countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were rescued. The victims, who lacked any valid travel documents, claimed they had come to Nigeria for “online business” opportunities.
All suspects and victims have since been transferred to INTERPOL for further investigation and appropriate action.
Also, on July 17, 2025, the Police arrested three suspects in connection with a case of house-breaking and theft reported in Maje Division, Kaduna Road. The suspects are:
Shuaibu Rabiu (26), a vigilante member
Shamsudeen Isah (24) of Dei-Dei, Abuja
Ahmad Hussain of Dei-Dei, Abuja
Investigations revealed that the suspects stole a power generator, an unregistered motorcycle, and other valuables. The stolen generator was later traced to the room of an accomplice, Baban-Rimi, who is currently at large.
Recovered items included:
One power generator
Thirty mobile phones
Eight SIM cards
Two solar batteries
145 wraps of cannabis
10 bottles of codeine syrup
Face masks and other items
The suspects confessed to previous robberies and mentioned other accomplices still at large, including Buhari Jaguar and Dan-Boko.
Meanwhile,the Commissioner of Police, CP Elleman, has urged members of the public to continue providing credible and actionable intelligence to the Police to aid swift interventions and ensure community safety.
