The Niger State Police Command has arrested 21 suspects in separate operations across Minna for alleged thuggery, possession of dangerous weapons, unlawful activities and armed robbery.
The arrests, according to the command, followed a series of intelligence-led raids carried out at identified criminal hideouts and other locations considered security flashpoints within the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed the development in a crime bulletin, saying the operations were part of the command’s ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities and restore public safety across Niger State.
Police Raid Criminal Hideouts in Minna
According to the police, operatives attached to the Chanchaga Division conducted a midnight raid on September 1, 2026, targeting suspected criminal hideouts around Angwan-Dakoko, Angwan-Kwakwa and Angwan-Gwari areas of Minna.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 12 suspected miscreants.
Among those arrested were 25-year-old Victor Solomon, also known as “Tumbeleke,” who was allegedly found with a sharp dagger, and 17-year-old Osama Saidu Baushe, who was reportedly found in possession of a sharp sword.
The police said the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued, after which they would face prosecution where sufficient evidence was established.
Suspected Armed Robber Arrested
In a separate operation, operatives of the Maitumbi Division arrested a 20-year-old suspected armed robbery and house-breaking suspect, Yusuf Musa, of Angwan-Kadara, Maitumbi.
The police alleged that Musa confessed during interrogation to participating in a house-breaking operation on September 4 alongside another suspect identified as 22-year-old Danjuma.
According to the command, the suspects allegedly broke into a house behind Dana area of Maitumbi and stole several household and personal items.
The recovered items reportedly included a smart television, an orthopaedic bed, clothing, caps, bedsheets, a 3KVA generator, shoes, a pressing iron, iron rods, solar street lights, cameras and other valuables.
Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend Danjuma and recover the remaining stolen property.
More Arrests During Kpakungu Operations
The command also disclosed that six suspects were arrested during a raid conducted by operatives of the Kpakungu Division around Angwan-Kanawa.
The suspects were identified as Sani Ibrahim, 18; Abdulkareem Hassan, 20; Salmanu Ishaq, 18; Nasiru Mukhtar, 18; Suleiman Yusuf, 18; and Abdulsalam Shuaibu, 18.
Police said they were arrested with substances suspected to be cannabis, a cutlass, two scissors and a black bag containing other illicit items.
In another operation at Marikichi, three additional suspects were arrested following a fight among themselves. Police alleged that one of them, Mustapha Abdulkadir, used a cutlass to inflict an injury on Ibrahim Mohammed.
The injured suspect was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the suspects were subsequently charged to court.
Locally Made Pistol Recovered at Mining Site
The police also reported the recovery of a locally made pistol at a mining site in Dogon-Ruwa village, Bosso Local Government Area.
The command said it received information about the weapon on August 25 and immediately deployed operatives to the location.
The firearm was recovered and taken into police custody as an exhibit, while investigations were launched to determine how it got to the mining site and whether it was connected to any criminal activity.
Continued Crackdown on Criminal Activities
The latest arrests form part of a broader security crackdown by the Niger State Police Command against thuggery, robbery, youth restiveness, drug-related offences and possession of dangerous weapons.
The command has carried out several similar operations in Minna and other parts of the state in recent months. In August, for instance, police announced the arrest of more than 100 suspects following raids linked to an unlawful rally, alleged attacks and robbery in Suleja and surrounding areas.
The police have repeatedly said that intelligence gathering and community cooperation remain essential to identifying criminal hideouts and preventing attacks.
Police Urge Residents to Remain Vigilant
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing criminal activities.
It also warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that suspects arrested during the operations would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The latest crackdown underscores the continuing efforts by the Niger State Police Command to tackle criminality in the state, particularly in urban communities where incidents of thuggery, robbery and youth-related violence have raised concerns among residents.
The command said investigations into the latest cases were ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to apprehend other suspects still at large.
All suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.