19 hours ago
3
The Niger State Police Command has arrested 24 suspects allegedly involved in thuggery, armed robbery, and the unlawful possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons in the Maitumbi area of Minna, the state capital.
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the arrests were made on July 30, 2025, between 3 am and 5:30 am, during a sting operation against thuggery, armed robbery, and other social vices.
He explained that operatives of the Anti-Thuggery Unit of the SCID Minna, in collaboration with officers from Maitumbi and Central police stations and local vigilantes, raided Angwa-Roka, Kwari-Berger, Flamingo, and Tudun within the Maitumbi area, where the suspects were apprehended.
Some of those arrested include Abubakar Nura, 23, of Anguwan-Roka, Auwal Mohammed, 20, of Anguwan-Roka, Suleiman Hassan, 21, of Anguwan-Roka, and Alhassan Mohammed, 19, of Maitumbi.
The suspects were arrested in a residence used as a hideout by a notorious gang leader, Saidu Umar Namaska, who is currently at large. A search of the premises led to the recovery of one automatic pump-action gun with two live cartridges, a bolt cutter, cutlasses, scissors, shisha pots, and other illicit substances.
Abiodun further disclosed that others arrested include Usman Abubakar Bahago, 18, of Maitumbi, Abubakar Sadiq Bahago, 24, of Anguwan-Roka, and Mubarak Abubakar, 18, of Anguwan-Roka. They were apprehended in another house reportedly used by another gang leader, known as Sudaise, as a base of operations, with several dangerous weapons recovered.
Among the suspects were Jemilu Ibrahim, 23, of Berger Junction and Jemilu Ilyasu, 16, of Kwari-Berger, who were found in a shop. During an attempt to arrest them, they allegedly threatened security operatives with a knife while trying to escape through the rooftop. Cutlasses and knives were discovered under their bed.
Other suspects include Shafiu Umar Chukuli, 30, of Maitumbi, Daniel Joseph, 16, of Angwan-Gwari, Saidu Aminu Babayi, 25, of Tudun, Maitumbi, and Mustapha Mohammed, 25, of Berger Junction.
“This gang was found in a house where a vigilante member was killed last year and it’s one of the houses used as a hideout. Eleven others were also arrested in different situations within the areas at the early hours of the day,” Abiodun said.
All suspects are currently under investigation, while efforts to apprehend other gang members are ongoing.
