Seven Detained Over Student’s Death At Niger Varsity

The Niger State Police Command has apprehended seven individuals linked to cult activities at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, in connection with the murder of a student earlier this year.

The disclosure was made in a statement released to PUNCH Online on Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

The command stated that on June 23, 2025, at around 3 a.m., a report was received of a tragic attack on an IBBUL student, Abdulwahab Jafar, 23, from Paiko, at his campus lodge, among other incidents that resulted in his death.

The police stated that the June 23 incident triggered unrest in the Lapai community, leading to the deployment of tactical teams to restore order.

Further investigations by the Command, carried out jointly by the Tactical Support Team and the Force Intelligence Department, resulted in the arrest of 19 individuals across Lapai and other areas of the state.

Wasiu stated that the investigation was subsequently focused on seven suspects, facing charges such as criminal conspiracy, robbery, membership of an unlawful society, internet fraud, possession of dangerous weapons, and suspected culpable homicide.

Abiodun identified the suspects as ”Idris Hamza, 27, and Suleiman Damilare, 27, both of Maikunkele; Abdulsemiu Bashir, 23, of Lapai; Bawa Aliyu, 27, of Suleja; Yakubu Musa, 24, of Maikunkele; Samson Abbah, 28, of Rafin-Yanshi; and Solomon Musa, 28, of Maitumbi.”

Abiodun noted that Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested “on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, and local black soaps with a Toyota Corolla vehicle at one Abdullahi Ahmed a.k.a catch-up residence.

“The suspects confessed to members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to having carried out a series of cultist activities in IBBUL such as initiation of members e.g Jolijoli and other members,’’ Abiodun said.

The statement added that Abdulsemiu Bashir, allegedly a rival member of the VIKINGS group, was arrested in Lapai on June 29.

Police found him in possession of “16 SIM cards, POS machine and sum of seventy-seven thousand naira. He claimed that he bought the SIM cards from one Audu, another member of VIKINGS presently at large.

“The SIM cards were confirmed to be from stolen/robbed phones of victims,” Abiodun said.

The statement noted that Bawa Aliyu, Yakubu Musa, Samson Abbah, and Solomon Musa were also connected to cult-related robberies and assaults on students.

According to Abiodun, “Samson Abbah “was also mentioned as the group Admin officer of their WhatsApp platform for Minna zone.

“The platform was named as ‘Men that matters’ before he changed it to ‘Football News’, where they discussed their nefarious activities,” Abiodun said.

Abiodun disclosed that investigation is ongoing, “and effort to identify either VIKINGS or NBM members responsible for the attack of the deceased is intensified, as it was established that the attack was cultists related.

“Further development will be made public.”

In another operation, three suspects were taken into custody on charges of conspiracy and stealing motorcycles. On September 9, 23-year-old Bashir Yahaya from Fadikpe was found carrying a sack filled with motorcycle parts.

“He confessed to having stolen two motorcycles from Fadikpe area and that he usually sells the parts at Sabon-Gari and Kasuwan-Gwari areas of Minna.

“Case is under investigation,” Abiodun said.

Earlier, on September 4, Lawali Bello, 27, from Iri Village in Rijau, was apprehended for the theft of a Bajaj motorcycle that occurred on September 2.

“A report was made at Rijau Div stating that on 2nd September 2025 around 10.30am, unknown persons invaded a residence at Iri Village and stole a Bajaj motorcycle.

“Police surveillance team of Rijau Div arrested one Lawali Bello 27yrs of the same village with the said Bajaj motorcycle.

“He confessed to the crime and he was charged to court for prosecution,” Abiodun said.