Police arrest 12 suspects over theft, political thuggery in Niger State

The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested 12 suspects over housebreaking, shop burglary, theft, political thuggery and destruction of property across the state.

The command also said dangerous weapons and several stolen items were recovered during the operations.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a crime bulletin issued on Sunday.

According to the statement, Alhassan Abdullahi, 32, and Zahradeen Aliyu, 22, were arrested over alleged housebreaking and theft in the Maje Flyover area of Suleja.

The police said unidentified persons broke into a house on 28 October and stole about 120 litres of diesel stored in three jerrycans, a mobile phone and an undisclosed sum of money.

Following an investigation, Mr Abdullahi was arrested and allegedly identified Mr Aliyu as the receiver of the stolen items.

A search of Mr Aliyu’s residence reportedly led to the recovery of three empty jerrycans, housebreaking tools, including a bolt cutter, a 42-inch television and some clothes.

The police said both suspects had been charged to court.

In a separate incident, the command arrested a 32-year-old shop caretaker, Victor Peter, over the alleged burglary of five shops along KFF Street, Gidan-Kwano, Minna.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of 5 November, when items valued at more than N2 million were stolen.

The stolen items included two power banks, four traditional outfits, other clothing materials, four pairs of shoes, chargers and a music box.

The police said Mr Peter allegedly confessed to committing the crime alone at about 3:30 a.m., adding that he moved the stolen items to an uncompleted building with the intention of selling them to raise money for betting activities.

Police subsequently took the recovered exhibits into custody, and the suspect was charged in court.

The command also announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with alleged political thuggery and violence during campaign activities in Minna.

It said six suspects were arrested on November 12 at the Trade Fair Complex, Shango, for allegedly engaging in thuggery during political campaign activities.

The suspects were reportedly found with two cutlasses, four knives, scissors and other dangerous weapons.

Similarly, an alleged notorious thug identified as Anasho was arrested around Tunga on November 13.

The police alleged that he attacked a political campaign team, damaging vehicles, banners and other campaign materials. A cutlass was reportedly recovered from him.

The suspect remains in police custody for further investigation.

In another development, the command arrested two suspects in separate cases involving theft, thuggery and malicious damage to property.

One of them, Lawal Mohammed, 35, was arrested following a complaint that he allegedly broke into a room in a compound at Angwan-Dakoko, Chanchaga, on November 10 and stole 11 wrappers and a power bank.

The police said four of the wrappers and the power bank were recovered from him. He is expected to be charged and brought to court.

Meanwhile, police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division, working with local vigilante members, arrested an 18-year-old suspect, Kabiru Mikailu, following an attack on a residence in Angwan-Kadara.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on November 13, when suspected miscreants attacked a house, damaged a vehicle’s windscreen and broke about four crates of soft drinks.

The police said Mikailu was identified as one of the alleged masterminds of the attack.

During interrogation, he reportedly mentioned six other suspects, identified as Khalifa Usman, Abba Usman, Nafiu, Ali Zagam, Abubakar and others who are currently at large.

Four sticks and two cutlasses were recovered from him, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The police command reiterated its commitment to tackling criminal activities and maintaining public order across Niger State.