The Niger State Police Command has arrested several suspects in connection with car theft, vandalism and other criminal offences across the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the arrests followed coordinated intelligence-led operations.
He said operatives of the State Intelligence Department arrested two suspected members of a car theft syndicate on April 15. The suspects were apprehended in Minna and Bida, respectively, in connection with stolen vehicles.
According to the police, one suspect was found in possession of a Honda CR-V, reportedly stolen in Kano and brought to Minna for sale. In contrast, another suspect was arrested with a Toyota Corolla, which was allegedly purchased for ₦1.1 million.
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In a separate operation, police in Kontagora arrested a 20-year-old suspect for alleged involvement in vandalising a transformer and stealing oil valued at over ₦1 million. Two other suspects were identified as receivers of the stolen items and are under investigation.
Similarly, on April 14, three suspects were intercepted along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway with vandalised armoured cables suspected to belong to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. Tools used for cutting the cables were also recovered.
The Command also said it foiled an armed robbery attack in the Sauka-Kahuta area of Minna on April 19. The suspects fled the scene after encountering resistance from a victim, abandoning a locally made pistol and other items, the police revealed.
In another development, a 28-year-old woman was arrested in Kontagora with a substance suspected to be cannabis. She has since been charged in court.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and urged residents to continue to provide timely and credible information to aid security operations.