The Niger State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, continues to intensify efforts to combat crime and restore sanity within Minna metropolis and across the state.

In a series of successful operations, the Command recorded notable breakthroughs between the 9th and 16th of April, 2025.

On April 14th, 2025, at approximately noon, police operatives attached to the Chanchaga Division raided an illegal mining site located behind the College of Education in Minna.

The operation, which was conducted as part of the Command’s ongoing crackdown on illegal activities, led to the arrest of about thirty individuals involved in unauthorized mining operations. Several other suspects managed to flee the scene upon the arrival of the officers.

Items recovered from the site include: 69 shovels, 182 head pans, 33 diggers, 38 plastic containers, and one hoe.

Following the raid, the suspects were thoroughly investigated. Minors and women among them were screened and released, while 18 individuals were formally charged to court for illegal mining activities. The recovered items are being held at Chanchaga Division, and further monitoring and enforcement operations are ongoing in the area.

Meanwhile, on April 11th, 2025, around 8:00 am, operatives of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Command arrested one Abdullahi Sani, 20, from Rafin-Daji in Abaji Area Council of the FCT. He was intercepted at Gidan-Gwona, in the Saminaka area of Gurara Local Government Area, in possession of a fabricated AK-49 rifle and a magazine loaded with three live 7.62mm rounds of ammunition.

During preliminary interrogation, Sani claimed he was returning from a social event in Kwakuti when he was stopped by the police.

He alleged that he is a member of the vigilante group “Yansakai” in Abaji and that the weapon was given to him by his commander, one Danlami Bala, also of Abaji.

The police subsequently arrested Danlami Bala, who stated that the rifle was handed to him by a man identified only as Yakubu, who is currently at large. Both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

In a separate incident on April 9th, 2025, around 3:30 pm, a resident of the Limawa community reported the theft of his white Jincheng motorcycle with registration number QB 796 MSG. According to the victim, he had parked the motorcycle while visiting a relative, only to return and find it missing.

Following swift police action, one Shamsu Ibrahim, 20, of Limawa, was arrested in connection with the crime. During questioning, the suspect confessed to stealing the motorcycle and selling it to an unidentified buyer in Maitumbi for ₦50,000.

Police operatives followed up on the lead and successfully recovered the abandoned motorcycle in Maitumbi. The suspect is currently undergoing further investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna and will be prosecuted accordingly.

On April 16th, 2025, at about 3:00 pm, police operatives attached to Maje Division, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended a notorious four-man syndicate known for defrauding unsuspecting individuals in markets across Niger State.

The suspects were intercepted at the Izom cattle market while allegedly planning to defraud a cattle seller. They were arrested in a black Mercedes-Benz vehicle with registration number KTU 747 HF.

The suspects are: Aliyu Abbas, 35, of Funtua, Katsina State, Jibrin Idris, 35, of Gwiwa, Jigawa State, Musa Ya’u, of Daura, Katsina State, Abubakar Yahaya, 45

Upon interrogation, the suspects admitted to being professional fraudsters. Recovered from them were: ₦1.2 million in cash.

A bunch of cut-to-size papers used for making counterfeit notes

Liquid chemicals were allegedly used in forging currency, a handcuff, and two mobile phones.

Several victims have since come forward to identify the syndicate, confirming that the suspects had previously defrauded them at different markets by pretending to be police officers or counterfeit money producers.

The suspects are currently under investigation and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.