Residents Lament Upsurge In Urban Crimes In Niger

Urban crimes involving late-night robbery and stabbing of victims at their residences and roadsides by drugs induced teenagers have been on the increase in Minna, Niger State capital.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the boys used chemicals in powder form, a high-flash torch, and dangerous weapons to overpower their targets.

It was observed that they operate at night, mostly between the middle of the night and 5 am, carting away mostly mobile phone sets, laptops, cash and sometimes electronics that they can quickly sell to get cash.

A victim around Niteco Road Tunga who prefers anonymity said when they entered his house forcefully, they flashed a torch at his eyes, making it impossible to recognise them; they collected his mobile phones, laptop and iPads and immediately rushed to his neighbour’s flat.

Also another victim said they opened the gate to their compound and he came out unknown to him they rushed him and poured powder on his face and he immediately lost consciousness.

The victim said, „They are small boys most of them are not older than 17 years , they go out with daggers and all kind of knives, the boys are dangerous, they have their leaders who are older and stay around to ensure no security men are on their trails.“

Just recently, a member of the state House of Assembly representing Gbako constituency, Hon.Yahaya Abubakar Ahmadu sponsored a motion at the House on the high rate of consumption of illicit drugs and other intoxicants by youths and its attendance effects on crimes.

Speaking on the development, the state‘s Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Wasiu Abiodun said, „Most of these incidents were not reported to the nearest police station.“

He, however, said the commissioner of Police, Niger State Command (CP) Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, during the end of August conference, directed Area Commanders/DPOs to intensify visibility policing in their areas and „ensure that patrols and other crime preventive measures are fully emplaced to eradicate or drastically reduce urban crime in our environment“.

“He (CP) directed them further to deploy undercover personnel for top-notch intelligence and embark on constant raiding of black spots, criminal hideouts and other gathering points of miscreants. Meanwhile, many of these miscreants had been recently arrested and prosecuted, while others are under investigation,“ he added.