Garba Mohammed, the village head of the Guiwa community, has been arrested by the police together with 13 others for allegedly assisting and harbouring armed bandits operating in Mashegu, Niger state.
The arrest took place on Friday following a coordinated raid by police and local vigilante groups on known bandit camps and hideouts in Guiwa and Telle villages as part of an ongoing clearance operation.
The Niger State Police Command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, stating that Mohammed was accused of supplying asylum and logistical aid to the offenders.
Abiodun went on to say that Mohammed was arrested based on genuine intelligence and that various incriminating things were discovered at his home during a comprehensive search.
“On 23rd May, 2025, at about 9am, in continuation of this operation, the team stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible information received, and the Mai-Angwan of Guiwa village Mall.
“Garba Mohammed was arrested for screening and aiding banditry activities, using his house as a hideout, with the recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle.
“Thirteen others were also arrested in different locations within Mashegu LGA for similar reasons,” he stated.
Abiodun also stated that a day prior, on May 22nd, security forces had conducted raids on suspected kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA, including the Magaman-Daji forest and surrounding areas.
“In furtherance of clearance operations in Mashegu areas against banditry and other violent crimes, on 22nd May, 2025, police operatives and vigilante members conducted clearance operations in some identified kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA, such as Magaman-Daji forest and its environs, and in the process, most of the suspected kidnappers fled from the scene, and others were believed to have escaped with gunshot injuries,” the statement read.
Abiodun mentioned that the command has commenced investigation into these cases to ascertain the involvement of the village head and the other suspects in banditry activities across the region.
