The Niger State Police Command has apprehended 24 suspected criminals in a coordinated sting operation targeting thuggery and armed robbery across several crime-prone areas of the state.
The operation, led by the Anti-Thuggery Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, was carried out in collaboration with operatives from Maitumbi and Central Police Stations, alongside local vigilante groups.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the early-morning raids swept through notorious spots, including Angwan Roka, Kwari, Berger Junction, Flamingo, and Tudun under Maitumbi. Among those arrested were Abubakar Nura, Auwal Mohammed, Suleiman Hassan, and Alhassan Mohammed.
The suspects were arrested at a residence believed to be the hideout of a notorious gang leader, Saidu Umar Namaska, who is currently on the run. A search of the premises yielded dangerous items such as one automatic pump-action gun, two live cartridges, a bolt cutter, cutlasses, scissors, shisha pots, and various illicit substances.
In a separate operation, officers also apprehended suspects believed to be affiliated with another gang led by a suspect identified as Sudaise, also currently at large. Two suspects, Jamilu Ibrahim and Jamilu Ilisayu, were arrested after resisting arrest in a shop by threatening officers with knives and attempting to escape through the rooftop. Weapons, including cutlasses and knives, were discovered hidden under their bed.
Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, while confirming the arrests, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining proactive policing strategies aimed at stamping out crime in the state. He appealed to residents to collaborate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities.
“We are determined to rid the state of criminal elements. With the support of the public, we can make Niger State safer for all,” CP Elleman stated.
Investigations are ongoing, while efforts continue to track down fleeing gang leaders and other accomplices.
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