The Niger State Police Command has arrested nine suspected criminals for thuggery, possession of dangerous weapons, and attempted robbery.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated this in a statement issued to journalists on Friday in Minna.
He added that the arrests were made during a sting operation in Minna metropolis, aimed at ensuring a peaceful Ember period and securing the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. Police operatives from the Maitumbi Division, accompanied by local vigilante members, conducted targeted raids on identified criminal hideouts.
The statement noted that during the operation, seven suspects were apprehended behind Flamingo Junction and in the Sabon-Anguwa area. Among them were Abdulraheem Yunusa and Aminu Abdullahi from F/Layout, as well as Sharia Auwal, Angwan-Daji; Maniru Umar, Abubakar Halidu, Anas Sani, and Auwal Halidu, respectively.
SP Wasiu Abiodun further stated that the first three suspects were allegedly caught behind Flamingo Junction in Maitumbi, where they were planning to attack and rob unsuspecting members of the public.
They were found in possession of two sharp knives and three mobile phones. The remaining four suspects were arrested in Sabon-Anguwa while attempting to attack a victim.
They were also found with various dangerous weapons, including knives, a dagger, scissors, pliers, an axe, charms, and mobile phones.
The statement emphasized that all the suspects are under investigation and will be charged to court for prosecution once the investigation is completed.
In a related development, the DPO of the GRA Division led a combined team of police operatives and vigilante members in raiding a criminal hideout behind Mai-Anguwa House at Dutsen-Kura Gwari, Minna.
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This resulted in the arrest of two suspects, identified as Baraka Suleiman (27) and Nasiru Maikaji (22), both from Dutsen-Kura Gwari.
They were apprehended with approximately seventy wraps of suspected cannabis, additional quantities in a polythene bag, and N130,300, believed to be proceeds from the sale of cannabis.
Abiodun stated that during interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted to being members and customers of the cannabis operation but denied ownership of the seized items.
Other suspects managed to escape the scene. He assured that efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
