Police arrest 147 suspects in Niger raids, recover weapons, cannabis

Police arrested 139 criminal suspects and charged 64 of them in a series of operations across Suleja and Minna, Niger State, according to the Niger State Police Command. The arrests followed a violent rally in Suleja where some participants allegedly used dangerous weapons to assault and rob members of the public. The police deployed the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area on 4 August, leading to the detention of 139 individuals during sting operations at known criminal hideouts. Among the suspects, 64 were identified as engaged in criminal activities and were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Suleja on charges such as criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and possession of dangerous weapons. They were remanded in a correctional centre pending further legal proceedings. The operation in Suleja began after reports of unlawful assemblies and violent behavior during a protest. The police stated that the Violent Crime Response Unit, led by CSP Hassan Gimba, acted on actionable intelligence to conduct raids in several locations including Madalla, Kwata, Bakin-Ruwa, Dikko, Kaduna Road, Sabon-Wuse, Gwazunu, and Chaza. During these operations, law enforcement officers seized items such as suspected cannabis, knives, cutlasses, scissors, and four live cartridges. The 64 suspects who were charged faced multiple accusations, including aiding and abetting, harboring suspected criminals, and causing the disappearance of evidence. All suspects were placed under custody in a correctional facility while investigations continued. Separate operations in Minna resulted in the arrest of eight suspected thugs. Surveillance teams from the Tudun-Wada Division carried out coordinated raids in the Talakawa area of Tunga on 11 August. Three suspects, Ashiru Sirajo, Aminu Mahmud, and Dadi Suleiman, were apprehended, and a search of their home uncovered a long flexible cutlass, two clubs, and a shovel. The operation expanded to the Sauka-Kahuta area, where another suspect, Jibrin Muhammad, was arrested. He was found in possession of two sharp daggers, an ice bunker, six lighters, and suspected cannabis. In another raid conducted by the Maitumbi Division in collaboration with local vigilantes on 9 August, four suspects, Buhari Aliyu, Shaabal Muhammed, Mubarak Ahmad, and Saifullah Muhammad, were detained at Challenge Junction. These individuals were allegedly found with illicit substances and shisha pots. The police indicated that investigations into these cases are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged once the inquiry concludes. In addition to these operations, the police also arrested two men accused of impersonating military personnel and assaulting a laundry shop attendant in Suleja. The incident took place on 8 August at Angwan-Gwari, Suleja, when the suspects, Abraham Ashiwel and Michael Okonkwo, wearing military uniforms, attacked an employee over an alleged missing mobile phone. Following the report, operatives from the ‘B’ Division in Suleja initiated an investigation and successfully located the suspects. During interrogations, the suspects admitted to impersonating military personnel after being expelled from the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, in 2016 and 2019. Items recovered from them included military camouflage uniforms, trousers, combat T-shirts, desert boots, identity cards, and jackknives. Both suspects remain in custody and are expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action. These operations reflect the police's broader strategy to address criminal activities and ensure public safety in Niger State. The force emphasized that the actions taken were part of sustained efforts to curb violence, illegal gatherings, and organized crime. The police continue to monitor the situation and plan additional measures to prevent future incidents. The ongoing investigations into the cases involving the 139 suspects and the eight arrested in Minna indicate that the authorities are committed to maintaining order and upholding the rule of law in the region.