Police arrest 10 suspected robbers and thugs in Minna, recover weapons

The Niger State Police Command has detained ten individuals suspected of robbery and violent crime in Minna. Police recovered firearms, knives, cutlasses and suspected cannabis from the suspects.

The arrests followed separate patrols and raid operations that were intelligence‑driven and carried out by police in partnership with local vigilante groups.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said that on Friday three suspects were taken into custody while allegedly attempting to rob passengers in a tricycle on the Kwari‑Begger/Maitumbi axis of Minna.

According to Abiodun, Tactical Support Team officers were on routine patrol on 4 June when they spotted a group of armed youths wielding cutlasses and knives. The suspects – Sadiq Ibrahim, 25; Abdulazeez Ahmed, 25; and Ibrahim Abdullahi, 26 – all residents of Kwari‑Begger, Maitumbi, were immediately apprehended.

Abiodun added that two cutlasses and a jackknife were seized from the suspects, who confessed during interrogation that they intended to steal passengers’ phones and other valuables.

In a related operation, police from the Central Police Station, together with vigilante members, raided hideouts in the PZ area, Sabon‑Gari, Abdulsalam Quarters, Tayi Village and Seyeno on 2 June. Seven additional suspects were arrested, and two sharp‑curved weapons and quantities of suspected cannabis were recovered.

The police spokesman said all suspects are currently in custody and are being investigated further.

He also noted that the command arrested Abubakar Alfa, who was allegedly in possession of a locally made pistol and a cutlass during a public function in Katcha. Alfa was taken into custody by Katcha Division officers on 1 June after he could not explain why he had the weapon. He has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further inquiry.

In another development, police recovered an abandoned Volkswagen with registration number KUJ 113 SB on the Suleja‑Minna Road. Abiodun said the vehicle had been abandoned near Farin‑Doki for three days before officers from Paiko Division, assisted by community members, moved it to the station for safekeeping and investigation.

The command said it is continuing efforts to apprehend other members of the robbery syndicate and to determine the circumstances surrounding the abandoned vehicle.