Police Arrest Suspected Cultists, Fish Thieves In Niger

Eleven persons have been apprehended by operatives of the Niger State Police Command over their alleged involvement in cultism and theft of fish in a farm.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun said two suspects – Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested at Fadikpe area with cannabis, charms, local black soaps and a Toyota Corolla car at the residence of one Abdullahi Ahmed a.k.a. Catch-up.

The PPRO said the suspects admitted to their membership of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to carrying out series of cultism activities such as initiation of members in IBB University Lapai.

“Their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who is reasonably suspected to be a rival member of the group known as VIKINGS. Upon his arrest in Lapai at a motor park, a spot search was carried out on him. He was found in possession of 16 SIM cards, PoS machine and sum of N77, 000, ” Abiodun added.

He said the suspects claimed that he bought the SIM cards from one Audu, another member of VIKINGS who was presently at large.

In another instance, Abiodun disclosed that four other persons conspired and trespassed into a fish farm in Lapai Gwari where they carted away fishes.

The PPRO gave the estimate of the stolen fish by the suspects at different times at about N750,000.

He added that during interrogation, the key suspect, Hussaini Garba confessed to the crime and mentioned one Ahmed Yusuf of Lapai-Gwari, Ibrahim Musa of Tungan-goro, and Abdulazeez Bawa of City-gate Minna as the receivers who bought the stolen fish at different times.