Olusegun Ariyo
The Police in Niger State have arrested 16 suspects in Minna for thuggery, public disturbance, and possession of dangerous weapons.
The command’s spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests, emphasizing the police’s commitment to maintaining public peace.
Abiodun said that the police, acting on a tip-off, raided a hotel near the PDP Secretariat on October 15, 2024, where the suspects, aged 14 to 24, were found with cutlasses, knives, cannabis, and other items.
According to him, the suspects said they were celebrating a birthday and needed the weapons for protection against a rival group, the Kafintella boys, stressing that they are under investigation and will face prosecution.
In a related development, 30 more individuals were arrested in Angwan-Roka and Maitumbi, while one suspect, Shabban Umar, was arrested in Bajego with sharp scissors.
The three suspects were arrested in Suleja on October 14, 2024, for stealing a N30 million tipper truck.
The truck was discovered in a workshop where it was being dismantled for sale. The suspects are currently under investigation.
On October 16, 2024, the police also arrested a suspected phone snatcher, Jamilu Ismail, in Maje, Suleja. Ismail, who had stolen phones using a ruse, was caught with three stolen phones and is being investigated.