Niger Police Arrest 30 Over Thuggery, Criminal Acts During Maulud Procession In Minna

The Niger State Police Command has apprehended 30 individuals during the Maulud procession in Minna, accusing them of involvement in thuggery and other criminal activities.

The arrests occurred on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. at various locations across Minna, including Angwan-Sarki, Limawa, Angwan-Daji, New-Market, Sabon-Gari, Kuta Road, Obasanjo Complex, Ogbomosho Street, Lagos Street, and the Central Roundabout.

According to a statement released on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, some of those arrested include “Abdullahi Ibrahim of Keterengwari, Zahradeen Ibrahim (a.k.a Lagos Boy) of Lagos Street, Dauda Usman of 123 Quarters, Abubakar Ibrahim of Kpakungu, Bashir Safiyanu of Sabon-Gari, Ashiru Rabiu of Barkin-Saleh, Abba Musa of Angwan-Mahuta, and Mohammed Abubakar of Kuta Road, among others.”

Items recovered from the suspects comprised three knives, three cutlasses, an iron rod, scissors, cannabis, shisha apparatus, and other illicit chemical substances.

“All suspects are under investigation, and they will be charged to court for thuggery,” Abiodun stated.

In a separate police operation, Muhammad Usman of Guiye-Doko village, Edu Local Government Area in Kwara State, was intercepted on Friday in Makera town. He was found in possession of two locally fabricated guns and six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

During interrogation, Usman reportedly confessed that he traveled from Kwara State and purchased the firearms in Soba village through Kaboji, Mashegu LGA, at the cost of one hundred and eighty thousand naira each, while the ammunition was sold at five thousand naira per round by an unidentified seller, the statement noted.

Abiodun added that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are being intensified to locate and apprehend the arms fabricator.

Minna, the capital of Niger State, has historically faced security challenges during large public gatherings. Violent clashes among youth gangs, particularly in hotspots such as Limawa, Kuta Road, and Chanchaga, have frequently disrupted events, leading to injuries and, in some cases, fatalities.

In response, the state government has implemented curfews on commercial motorcycles and tricycles to curb the rise in street crimes, including phone snatching and armed robberies. Furthermore, Governor Umaru Bago introduced a “shoot-at-sight” emergency order in April 2024, enforcing zero tolerance for any thug found disturbing public peace.

Authorities have also engaged community leaders, directing Mai-Angwas to identify and report offenders, warning that failure to comply will attract punitive measures.