The Niger State Police Command has arrested 71 suspects for offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, fraud and drug-related crimes during coordinated security operations carried out across the state in July.
The command also recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 magazines and 330 rounds of live ammunition, alongside several other items believed to have been used in criminal activities.
Addressing journalists in Minna, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, said the achievements resulted from intelligence-led operations, targeted raids on criminal hideouts, strategic deployment of tactical teams and increased cooperation from members of the public.
According to him, one of the command’s biggest successes during the period was the dismantling of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating across parts of Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation followed investigations into several kidnapping incidents reported in Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and communities along the Kaduna Road corridor.
CP Elleman disclosed that the suspected leader of the gang, Samaila Ilya, popularly known as “Maikujuri,” was arrested on July 10 near Kpakungu Roundabout in Minna after previously escaping during a gun battle with police operatives in Bwari.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to coordinating multiple kidnapping operations in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari, including one incident in which a victim was reportedly killed despite the payment of ransom.
The police commissioner said information obtained from the suspect led officers to hidden weapons caches, resulting in the recovery of additional AK-47 rifles concealed in forests around Gauraka and another arms dump in Bwari.
He added that efforts are continuing to apprehend other members of the criminal network who remain at large.
Police also arrested five additional suspected gang members during a rescue operation in Gauraka, leading to the safe rescue of three kidnapped victims.
In another operation, police operatives arrested Zubairu Mohammed in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area, while allegedly transporting five AK-47 magazines and 185 rounds of live ammunition concealed inside a bag of cement.
Investigators believe the ammunition was meant for delivery to another suspect identified simply as Ado, who is currently being tracked by security operatives.
The command also uncovered an alleged identity document forgery syndicate with the arrest of 42-year-old Mohammed Aliyu Buba in Munya and Wushishi Local Government Areas.
A search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of 105 fake National Identification Number (NIN) cards and 189 fake Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
According to CP Elleman, the suspect confessed to producing forged identity documents for more than 1,000 people, charging ₦2,000 for each fake NIN card and ₦1,000 for each fake PVC, generating proceeds estimated at over ₦3 million.
READ MORE:Â Appeal Court Bars Unfair Post-Employment Restrictive Clauses
The police also arrested suspects linked to an armed robbery attack near Kakaki village in the Bangi axis, while several individuals connected to violent clashes in different parts of the state remain in police custody and are assisting ongoing investigations.
During the operations, officers rescued nine children and an abducted infant.
Recovered exhibits include:
- 17 goats
- Four cows
- Three motorcycles
- Two vehicles
- Three cartons of tramadol
- Two bags of cannabis
- 16 cutlasses
- Three locally fabricated plastic pistols
- POS machines
- ATM cards
- Mobile phones
- Face masks
- Assorted clothing
- More than ₦352,000 in cash
CP Elleman reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and improving security across Niger State.
He also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital in protecting lives and property and combating crime across the state.
