The Niger State Police Command apprehended 15 individuals for a range of offenses including banditry, kidnapping, arms dealing, car theft, defilement/rape, thuggery, and possession of illicit drugs.
The State Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, revealed this information during a press briefing conducted at the command headquarters in Minna on Saturday. This initiative is part of the ongoing commitment to significantly reduce crime and criminal activities in the state.
Danmamman shared that a specialized squad from the Command and Nasko Division, utilizing technical intelligence, successfully arrested four suspected kidnappers. In the course of the operation, three locally made guns were recovered. The arrested individuals include Abubakar Hussaini of Anaba village, Buba Mohammed of Maje village, Mainasara Muhammadu of Takalafia in Nasko, and Ibrahim Abdullahi of Kontagora.
The suspects were involved in the kidnapping of a male victim from Isana village via Nasko, Magama Local Government Area (LGA). Following the abduction, the victim, approximately 20 years old, was taken to an undisclosed location. The suspects later confessed to receiving a ransom of one million, six hundred thousand naira before releasing the victim.
Buba Mohammed, one of the suspects, admitted to being part of another criminal group that blocked Genge-Ibeto Road, kidnapped a female victim, subjected her to gang rape by four men, and obtained a ransom of one million naira.
Additionally, the police arrested two notorious armed bandits based on reliable information. The Crack Squad apprehended Rabiu Yusuf (known as Rabee) in the Tungan-Mallam Market area of Paiko, Paikoro LGA.
In the course of questioning, he admitted to engaging in a series of kidnapping activities and acknowledged his affiliation with the Muware camp of bandits that instill terror in various areas of the State, including Beji, Maikunkele, Bosso, Gawu-Babangida, Sangeku, Bangi, Gulu, and Lapai.
The suspects are presently under investigation and are actively collaborating with the police, providing additional information that may contribute to the apprehension of those still at large.