The Niger State Police Command detained 24 suspected armed robbers in Minna, the state capital.
The culprits were apprehended on Wednesday at about 3 a.m. after SCID Minna’s anti-thuggery team, along with Maitumbi, Central Police Stations, and vigilante members, raided the scene of the incident.
Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s spokesman, said in a statement on Friday that the arrest was the result of state police commissioner Adamu Elleman’s intensification of the fight against thuggery, young restiveness, and armed robbery in Minna.
“The Niger State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Adamu Elleman, intensifies the fight against the menace of thuggery, youth restiveness, and armed robbery in the Minna metropolis. On 30th July, 2025, at about 3am–5:30am, police operatives of the Anti-Thuggery Unit of SCID Minna with Maitumbi, Central Police Stations, and vigilante members stormed areas of Angwa-Roka, Kwari-Berger, Flamingo, and Tudun under the Maitumbi area of Minna for a sting operation against thuggery, armed robbery, and other social vices.
“In the course of the operation, twenty-four suspects were arrested at various locations within the area, and some of the suspects are Abubakar Nura, 23 years of Angw/Roka; Auwal Mohammed, 20 years of Angw/Roka; Suleiman Hassan, 21 years of Angw/Roka; and Alhassan Mohammed, 19 years of Maitumbi.
“These suspects were arrested in Angwan-Roka in a residence where one Saidu Umar Namaska, presently at large, who is a notorious gang leader, used as a hideout.
“A search was carried out in the house, and the following exhibits were recovered: one automatic pump gun with two live cartridges, one bolt cutter, cutlasses, scissors, shisha pots, and other illicit substances.
“Other suspects arrested include Usman Abubakar Bahago, 18 years of Maitumbi; Abubakar Sadiq Bahago, 24 years of Angw/Roka; and Mubarak Abubakar, 18 years of Angw/Roka. These miscreants were also arrested in another house where one Sudaise, another gang leader, usually assembles his gang for their escapades. They were also arrested with some dangerous weapons.
“Among the suspects are Jemilu Ibrahim, 23 years old of Berger Junction, and Jemilu Ilyasu, 16 years old of Kwari-Berger. The two suspects were found in a shop, and during an attempt to effect arrest, they threatened the security team members with a knife while they tried to escape through the rooftop. Exhibits of cutlasses and knives were found under their bed.
“Also, parts of the suspects include Shafiu Umar Chukuli, 30 years of Maitumbi; Daniel Joseph, 16 years of Angwan-Gwari; Saidu Aminu Babayi, 25 years of Tudun; and Maitumbi Mustapha Mohammed, 25 years of Berger Junction. This batch of gang members was found in a house where a vigilante member was killed last year, and it’s one of the houses used as a hideout. 11 others were also arrested in different situations within the areas at the early hours of the day,” Abiodun said.
The spokesman stated that all the suspects were under investigation and efforts were on to arrest other gang members.
