The Niger State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide, motorcycle theft, thuggery and possession of illicit substances across the state.
The arrests were made as part of intensified efforts by the command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, to curb criminal activities.
According to a crime bulletin issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, three suspects were arrested on August 23 over alleged kidnapping, armed robbery and culpable homicide in Mariga Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Alhassan Tanko, 25; Basiru Shaibu, 26; and Ishaya Umar, 28, all from Beri, were arrested by a police surveillance team attached to the Kontagora Area Command following credible intelligence.
The police said the suspects allegedly formed a seven-man syndicate operating under the guise of a Yansakai Vigilante group at Uraga village.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery, claiming that members of the gang had killed at least three victims in Mariga LGA during their operations and stolen their motorcycles.
Police said investigations revealed that the stolen motorcycles were sold to one Awalu of Beri, while a search of the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of a pump-action rifle.
The command said efforts were ongoing to arrest Awalu and other members of the syndicate.
In a separate development, police arrested a suspected motorcycle thief, identified as Abdulkarim Yunusa, following a complaint that he allegedly converted a Bajaj motorcycle entrusted to him for personal use before absconding.
The suspect was traced to Tafa LGA in Kaduna State, where he was arrested with the motorcycle. He was subsequently charged to court, while the recovered motorcycle was released to its rightful owner.
The command also arrested a 25-year-old man, Nazifi Adamu, during the Maulud celebration in Minna on August 25. Adamu, of Angwan-Limawa, Gwada, was arrested at New-Market Junction with 10 packs of suspected Colorado cannabis, four cards of Rophynol tablets and one sachet of methyl-crystal, popularly known as ice.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly claimed that he brought the substances from Kuta to sell during the Maulud celebration. He remains in custody as investigations continue to establish the source of the substances.
Meanwhile, the command said six suspects were arrested following the alleged stabbing to death of a 35-year-old man, Nafiu Mohammed, in the Sabon-Titi area of Maitumbi.
The incident occurred on August 25, after which police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division rushed the victim to a medical facility, where he was confirmed dead.
Tactical teams subsequently arrested Emmanuel Moses, 25; Lukman Mohammed, 25; Abdullahi Mohammed, 19; Sani Ibrahim, 18, who was allegedly found with a long cutlass; Abdullahi Yusuf, popularly known as Challo, 22; and Adamu Isyaku, 20.
The suspects, all said to be from the area behind Maitumbi Primary School, allegedly mentioned one Muhammad Sani as being responsible for the victim’s death. Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend him.
In another operation along the Maitumbi-Gwada Road, three additional suspects — Nura Murtala, 19; Idris Aliyu, 19; and Haruna Ibrahim, 21 — were arrested at suspected criminal blackspots.
The suspects, all from Saiko, were allegedly found in possession of cannabis, a cutlass, four scissors and shisha pipes with pots.
The police said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
The command urged residents to continue providing credible information that could assist the police in preventing and combating crime across Niger State.