THE Niger State Police Command has arrested 32 suspected thugs, including three notorious kingpins and an escaped prison inmate, during sting operations across Minna.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Thursday, the raids were carried out between 30th and 31st August in Limawa, Makera, Kwangila, Central Roundabout, Railway Station, Ogbomosho Street, Abdulsalam Quarters, PZ area, Angwan-Kaje, New Market, Sabon-Gari, Kuta Road and Angwan-Sarki.
Among those arrested was 19-year-old Jemilu Usman, also known as Pabore, who had been on the police wanted list for attempted culpable homicide in Tayi village.
Other suspects include Abdulraheem Tasiu, alias Tsoho Papalo, from PZ area, and Abdulmajid Abubakar, 25, alias Gaye, of Angwan-Daji, who was recently released from prison but was caught again in possession of a cutlass.
The police also arrested 35-year-old Mohammed Yahaya of Angwan-Sarki, who was confirmed to be one of the escapees from the last jailbreak. He had previously been convicted for homicide.
Items recovered during the raids include wraps of suspected cannabis, shisha pots, cutlasses, and other illicit substances.
All suspects are currently under investigation, with efforts underway to return Yahaya to the custodial centre.
The police further revealed that Jemilu Usman is assisting in ongoing investigations into a May 2025 attack in Tayi village, where a victim was stabbed in the head during a confrontation with hoodlums.
In a separate development, two transformer vandals, Idris Garba, 21, and Saifullahi Alkasim, 28, were arrested on 1st September in Alagbado, Minna, while attempting to strip electric cables. Two accomplices managed to escape.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna.
Similarly, on 28th August, police operatives in Suleja arrested two motorcycle snatchers, Ilyasu Hassan and Ibrahim Mohammed, while attempting to sell a stolen Bajaj motorcycle.
The suspects confessed that the motorcycle had been stolen from Jere along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway and have since been arraigned in court.
