The Niger State Police Command has taken into custody a 23-year-old salesgirl, Sarah Ogbonna, accused of stealing goods valued at more than N29 million from a phone store in Minna.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the shop owner, whose business is located at Obasanjo Complex in Minna, reported the case to “A” Division on August 8.
“On 8th August, 2025, at about 12pm, a report was received at ‘A’ Div Minna from a shop owner at Obasanjo Complex, Minna, who deals in phone business.
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“The report indicated that his salesgirl, one Sarah Ogbonna, 23 years of Okada road, Minna, was suspected to have been stealing items/phones from his shop entrusted to her.
“He alleged that she had stolen items worth over twenty-nine million naira from the shop,” Abiodun said.
The police spokesperson explained that officers promptly apprehended Sarah, and during interrogation, Ogbonna admitted she had been employed at the shop since 2023 but claimed she was unsure if the items she had taken were worth as much as twenty-nine million naira.
He stated that Sarah’s confession resulted in the arrest of three accomplices on August 9.
Those arrested were identified as 23-year-old Ruth Omor Emmanuel of Tunga, Minna; 30-year-old Mercy Ogbonna of Okada Road; and 32-year-old Nurudeen Musa of Obasanjo Complex, Minna.
“Further investigation revealed that Sarah made multiple transfers of money to her senior sister, Mercy Ogbonna, who sorts out family challenges on her behalf, such as payment of house rents, purchase of food items and other needs for the families.
“Ruth Emmanuel was also a salesgirl in the shop, and she allegedly participated in some of the acts before she left, while Nurudeen Musa usually collects expensive phones from Sarah and sells the phones at giveaway prices, rendering short payments for a long period of time,” Abiodun said.
The police also disclosed that Sarah rented and furnished an apartment in the Sauka-Kauta area of Minna for her boyfriend, identified as Samuel Abiodun Bello, who is currently on the run.
“She also transferred some money to him and equally claimed that she engaged in a weekly financial contribution of one hundred and fifty thousand naira with a yet to be identified online group,” the PPRO added.
Abiodun stated that all the suspects are currently being investigated, adding that several items were recovered from Sarah.
“The following items were recovered from her: two power generators, one smart TV, one freezer, four wigs of five hundred thousand naira each, one gas cylinder, shoes, canvas, bags, clothes, house furniture and other items,” Abiodun said
