By Sesi Noah The Niger State Police Command has arrested 30 people over alleged thuggery and related crimes during the Maulud celebration i...
By Sesi Noah
The Niger State Police Command has arrested 30 people over alleged thuggery and related crimes during the Maulud celebration in Minna.
The arrests were made on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. across different parts of the state capital, including Angwan-Sarki, Limawa, Angwan-Daji, New Market, Sabon-Gari, Kuta Road, Obasanjo Complex, Ogbomosho Street, Lagos Street, and the Central Roundabout.
Police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday, listing some of the suspects as Abdullahi Ibrahim of Keterengwari, Zahradeen Ibrahim (popularly known as 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 them included three knives, three cutlasses, an iron rod, scissors, cannabis, shisha pipes, and other illegal substances.
“All suspects are currently under investigation and will be charged to court for thuggery,” Abiodun stated.
In a separate operation on Friday, the police also arrested one Muhammad Usman of Guiye-Doko village in Edu LGA, Kwara State, at Makera town. He was allegedly caught with two locally made guns and six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. Investigations are ongoing to trace and arrest the gunsmith behind the weapons.
Minna has long struggled with security issues, especially during large gatherings. Youth gang clashes in areas like Limawa, Kuta Road, and Chanchaga have often led to violence, injuries, and deaths.
To check the menace, the state government previously imposed curfews on commercial motorcycles and tricycles, citing their role in crimes such as phone snatching and robberies. More firmly, Governor Umaru Bago in April 2024 declared a “shoot-at-sight” order on thugs causing unrest, and directed community leaders to help identify and report culprits or face sanctions themselves.
Photo credit: Punch
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