139 Suspected Thugs Arrested In Niger

Operatives of the Niger state Police Command have arrested 139 suspects and prosecuted 64 for alleged unlawful assembly and attack on innocent members of the public in Suleja.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this yesterday in Minna while giving update on crimes in the state.

He explained that in view of an alleged unlawful assembly and violent rally in Suleja where some miscreants were sighted with dangerous weapons, attacking and robbing members of the public, the command deployed a team led by CSP Hassan Gimba to the area.

“On getting to Suleja, the team swung into action with the aid of actionable intelligence and conducted sting operations in some identified blackspots in Madalla, Kwata, Bakin-Ruwa, Dikko, Kaduna Road, Sabon-Wuse, Gwazunu and Chaza areas. During the raid operations, a total of 139 suspects were arrested at different locations mentioned above,” he said.

The PPRO stated that after the raid of the blackspots, the team commenced investigation and the arrested suspects were screened to 64 suspects who were found with large quantities of suspected cannabis, dangerous weapons, scissors, knives, cutlasses and four live cartridges.

He said based on the investigation the 64 suspects were later arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court Suleja for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, aiding and abetment, harbouring suspected criminals, giving information to miscreants, causing disappearance of evidence, mischief and being in possession of dangerous weapons and all suspects were remanded in correctional centre.

Similarly he said Police surveillance team attached to Tudun-Wada Division conducted coordinated raids of suspected blackspots around Talakawa area of Tunga Minna and three suspects were also arrested;

The PPRO said a search of their residence was conducted and along flexible cutlass, two big clubs (gora) and one shovel were recovered.

He added that the raids were extended to Sauka-Kahuta area where another suspected thug was arrested in possession of illicit substances and dangerous weapons.