Niger State Police Arrest Suspects in Vehicle Thefts and Infrastructure Vandalism
The Niger State Police Command has apprehended two individuals for their suspected involvement in motor vehicle theft and the receipt of stolen vehicles. In separate operations conducted in Minna and Bida, authorities recovered two vehicles linked to these offenses.
Additional Arrests for Power Infrastructure Crimes
In a related development, the police also detained three more suspects connected to criminal conspiracy, vandalism, and the theft of power infrastructure. This included the destruction of armored cables believed to belong to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Operation Driven by Reliable Intelligence
The details of these arrests were revealed in a statement released on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun. He emphasized that the operations were executed based on credible intelligence and meticulous monitoring by police operatives.
Details of Vehicle Theft Arrests
According to the statement, the initial investigations led to the capture of Abdulfatai Abdulganiyu, 49, from Hotoro, Kano State, and Nura Umar, 28, who lives in the low-cost area of Bida. Abdulfatai was arrested at a hotel on Mandera Road in Minna, where police discovered he was in possession of a Honda CR-V, registration number ABJ 529 DE, allegedly stolen from Kano.
Confession and Subsequent Arrests
The statement detailed that Abdulfatai is suspected to be part of a car theft syndicate. During questioning, he purportedly confessed that the vehicle was stolen in Kano and handed over to him by a man named Musa Abdulrazaq. He indicated that he traveled to Minna to find prospective buyers for the vehicle. A follow-up investigation resulted in the arrest of Nura Umar, who allegedly purchased a Toyota Corolla for 1.1 million Naira, paying an upfront amount of 700,000 Naira.
Vandalism and Theft of Transformer Oil
In a distinct operation, the Kotangola police apprehended Yazidu Dalhatu for vandalism and theft of transformer oil in the Tudung Wada area, while two other suspects remain at large. The statement reported that Dalhatu confessed to his involvement and revealed that he had also destroyed two additional transformers in Yangaro village, naming Mohammad Lawal and Umar Riman as his accomplices.
Interception of Stolen Armored Cables
In another incident, police intercepted a vehicle on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway that was transporting destroyed armored cables, suspected to belong to AEDC. The authorities arrested three suspects: 23-year-old Ibrahim Aminu, 26-year-old Isa Jafar, and 19-year-old Yusuf Aminu, and recovered various tools, including a handsaw, hammer, chisel, and burnt armored cables.
Commitment to Combating Crime
The command has confirmed that all suspects are currently in custody and will face charges in court upon the conclusion of the investigations. State Police Commissioner Adam Eleman commended the operatives for their swift action and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to tackling crime across the state.
