In the early hours of Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at around 4:00 AM, Niger State Police operatives attached to the Tudun-Wada Division arrested sixteen suspected miscreants during a raid on a hotel along the Eastern Bye-pass near the PDP Secretariat in Minna.
The operation followed a tip-off from concerned citizens who reported the presence of armed individuals in the area, raising security concerns on the outskirts of the State capital.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects were found in a hotel room and were in possession of various dangerous items.
The seized exhibits included two cutlasses, two knives, suspected cannabis, a shisha apparatus, and injectable substances. The arrested individuals were identified as:
Hafis Yakubu (24)
Alhassan Aliyu (15)
Abubakar Aminu (15)
Badamasi Abdulmumini (18)
Hassan Sani (14)
Fahad Idris (14)
Abubakar Yusuf (15)
Sadiq Aliyu (17)
Mustapha Yakubu (18)
Masaud Idris (15)
Usman Abubakar (19)
Adamu Abdulmumini (15) all from Abdulsalam Quarters
Additionally, Nasiru Kabiru (15), Mubarak Ibrahim (18), Abubakar Sani (14), and Abdulsamad Abubakar (15) were arrested from Kuta Road, Minna.
During the investigation, the suspects claimed they were at the hotel to celebrate the birthday of Hafis Yakubu, the first suspect.
They also admitted carrying weapons for self-defence, citing ongoing conflicts with a rival group known as Kafintella youths.
The State Police Command noted that these suspects are linked to rising incidents of phone snatching and attacks on unsuspecting members of the public across Minna.
SP Abiodun reassured the public that the investigation is ongoing at Tudun-Wada Division, and the suspects will face prosecution once the investigation is complete.
The police also reported additional raids in areas such as Angwan-Roka, New-market, and Maitumbi, leading to the arrest of 30 more suspects who have already been charged to court.
Furthermore, law enforcement efforts continue in the Bajego area of Okada Road, where one suspect, Shabban Umar, was apprehended with sharp scissors.
However, two notorious individuals, Mohammed Zakari (a.k.a M2) and another known as “That Guy,” managed to evade capture.
The Niger State Police Command, under the direction of SP Abiodun, has intensified patrols and surveillance across Minna’s trouble spots to curb criminal activity and ensure public safety.
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