The Niger State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects in separate operations across the state for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide, motorcycle theft, thuggery and possession of illicit substances.
In astatement the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Wasiu Abiodun said the arrests, according to the Command, were recorded between August 22 and 25, 2026, as part of intensified efforts to combat crime and criminality under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman.
In the most serious case, police arrested three suspected members of a criminal syndicate allegedly operating under the guise of a Yansakai vigilante group in Uraga Village, Mariga Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Alhassan Tanko, 25; Basiru Shaibu, 26; and Ishaya Umar, 28, all from Beri in Mariga LGA, were arrested on August 23 following credible intelligence received by the police.
The Command said its surveillance team attached to the Kotangora Area Command moved to the area and apprehended the suspects.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed that seven members of the group formed the syndicate under the guise of a Yansakai vigilante outfit to perpetrate kidnapping and armed robbery.
Police said the suspects further confessed to killing at least three victims during their kidnapping operations in Mariga LGA and stealing their motorcycles.
Investigations reportedly revealed that the stolen motorcycles were sold to a man identified as Awalu of Beri. A search of the suspects’ residences also led to the recovery of a pump-action rifle.
The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest Awalu and other members of the syndicate, while the three suspects remain in custody for further investigation.
In another operation, police arrested a suspected motorcycle thief and recovered a Bajaj motorcycle allegedly converted for personal use.
The Command said a report was received at the Gawu-Babangida Divisional Police Headquarters on August 22 concerning a motorcycle entrusted to Abdulkarim Yunusa of Kadna Village, Gawu-Babangida, in May 2026.
Yunusa was accused of dishonestly converting the motorcycle for personal use before absconding to an unknown location.
Following sustained investigation, police traced and arrested the suspect in Tafa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where the motorcycle was recovered.
The suspect was subsequently charged to court, while the recovered motorcycle was released to its rightful owner.
Police operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Minna, also arrested a 25-year-old man, Nazifi Adamu, during the Maulud celebration on August 25.
Adamu, of Angwan-Limawa, was arrested around New Market Junction, Minna, with 10 packs of suspected Colorado cannabis, four cards of Rophynol tablets and one sachet of suspected crystal methamphetamine, also known as “ice.”
The Command said the suspect claimed during interrogation that he brought the substances from Kuta to sell during the Maulud celebration.
Police said further investigation would be conducted to establish the source of the substances before the suspect is prosecuted.
The Command also confirmed the arrest of six suspects in connection with the alleged killing of a 35-year-old man, Nafiu Mohammed, in the Sabon-Titi area of Maitumbi.
The victim was reportedly attacked and stabbed to death at about 6:45 p.m. on August 25. Police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division responded to the incident and rushed the victim to a nearby medical facility, where he was pronounced dead.
Tactical teams were subsequently deployed to the area, leading to the arrest of Emmanuel Moses, 25; Lukman Mohammed, 25; Abdullahi Mohammed, 19; Sani Ibrahim, 18, who was reportedly found with a long cutlass; Abdullahi Yusuf, also known as Challo, 22; and Adamu Isyaku, 20.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly identified one Muhammad Sani, said to be a member of their gang, as being responsible for the victim’s death.
Efforts were ongoing to apprehend Sani, while the six suspects remained in police custody for investigation into alleged criminal conspiracy and thuggery.
In a related operation, police operatives raided identified black spots along the Maitumbi-Gwada Road and arrested three additional suspects: Nura Murtala, 19; Idris Aliyu, 19; and Haruna Ibrahim, 21, all from Saiko.
The suspects were allegedly found in possession of cannabis, a cutlass, four scissors and shisha pipes with pots.
The Command said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The Niger State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations and taking decisive action against criminal elements across the state.
