The Niger State Police Command has arrested 24 suspected armed robbers in Minna, the state capital. A pump-action rifle was recovered from them following a sting operation..
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday around 3am when operatives of the anti-thuggery unit of SCID Minna with Maitumbi, Central Police Stations and vigilante members stormed the scene of the attack.
The spokesman of the Command Wasiu Abiodun who made this known in a statement on Friday said the arrest was the outcome of the state police commissioner Adamu Elleman’s intensification of the fight against the menace of thuggery, youth restiveness and armed robbery in Minna.
“The Niger State Police Command under the leadership of CP Adamu Elleman, intensifies the fight against the menace of thuggery, youth restiveness and armed robbery in Minna metropolis. On 30th July, 2025 at about 3am – 5.30am, Police operatives of the Anti-thuggery unit of SCID Minna with Maitumbi, Central Police Stations and vigilante members stormed areas of Angwa-Roka, Kwari-Berger, Flamingo and Tudun under the Maitumbi area of Minna for a sting operation against thuggery, armed robbery and other social vices.
In the course of the operation, twenty-four suspects were arrested at various locations within the area, and some of the suspects are, Abubakar Nura 23 years of Angw/Roka, Auwal Mohammed 20 years of Angw/Roka, Suleiman Hassan 21 years of Angw/Roka and Alhassan Mohammed 19 years of Maitumbi
These suspects were arrested in Angwan-Roka in a residence where one Saidu Umar Namaska, presently at large who is a notorious gang leader used as a hideout. A search was carried out in the house and the following exhibits were recovered; One automatic pump gun with two live cartridges, one bolt cutter, cutlasses, scissors, shisha pots and other Illicit substances
“Other suspects arrested include; Usman Abubakar Bahago 18 years of Maitumbi, Abubakar Sadiq Bahago 24 years of Angw/Roka and Mubarak Abubakar 18 years of Angw/Roka. These miscreants were also arrested in another house where one Sudaise, another gang leader usually assembles his gang for their escapades. They were equally arrested with some dangerous weapons.
Among the suspects are; Jemilu Ibrahim 23 years of Berger junction, Jemilu Ilyasu 16 years of Kwari-Berger. The two suspects were found in a shop, and during an attempt to effect arrest, they threatened the security team members with a knife while they tried to escape through the rooftop. Exhibits of cutlasses and knives were found under their bed.
“Also, parts of the suspects include; Shafiu Umar Chukuli 30 years of Maitumbi, Daniel Joseph 16 years of Angwan-Gwari, Saidu Aminu Babayi 25 years of Tudun, Maitumbi Mustapha Mohammed 25 years of Berger junction. This batch of gang was found in a house where a vigilante member was killed last year and it’s one of the houses used as a hideout. 11 others were also arrested in different situations within the areas at the early hours of the day,” Abiodun said.
The spokesman said all the suspects were under investigation and efforts were on to arrest other gang members.
