The Niger State Police Command has arrested several suspects in connection with separate cases of cattle rustling, vehicle theft, phone snatching and receiving stolen property across the State.

The arrests, according to the Command, followed intelligence-led operations and swift responses by its personnel to reports of criminal activities in different locations.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement made public on Monday, July 20, 2026.

In one of the operations, police said a suspect was arrested after armed criminals allegedly invaded a cattle camp in Lambata and made away with two cows.

According to the statement, the Gawu-Babangida Police Division received information at about 5:00 p.m. on July 8, 2026, that the cattle camp had been attacked around 2:00 a.m. the same day.

Police operatives, working with local vigilantes, moved to the area, recovered the stolen cattle and arrested Usman Aliyu of Old Gawu via Abaji, Federal Capital Territory. Another suspect, however, escaped.

The recovered cattle were subsequently returned to their owner, while the arrested suspect was charged to court. The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.

In a separate case, the Command arrested two suspects linked to the theft of a Toyota Corolla belonging to a commercial driver.

SP Abiodun said a report received at Maje Division on July 9, 2026, indicated that a suspect identified as Bala Yusuf had hired the driver for a trip from Bida to Abuja.

During the journey, Yusuf allegedly bought food for both of them at Kwamba in Suleja and secretly laced the driver’s meal with a substance.

The driver reportedly became unconscious after they checked into a hotel for the night, giving the suspect the opportunity to allegedly drive away with the vehicle.

Following investigations, the stolen Toyota Corolla was recovered from 42-year-old Mohammed Isah in Misau, Bauchi State. Isah reportedly claimed that he bought the vehicle from 42-year-old Hamza Mohammed for ₦1 million.

Both Isah and Hamza were arrested, while the main suspect, Bala Yusuf, remains at large. Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend him.

The Command also arrested three suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen mobile phones.

The police said detectives attached to Chanchaga Division acted on a report received on July 11, 2026, that suspected phone thieves had attempted to steal a handset from a shop in the Kan-Giwa area of Minna.

The operatives arrested 22-year-old Khalifa Musa and 23-year-old Saminu Mohammed, both of Angwan-Daji, Minna.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to stealing mobile phones and identified Ibrahim Auwal of Angwan-Sarki as the alleged receiver of the stolen items.

Police subsequently arrested Auwal and recovered one Bajaj motorcycle and five mobile phones. The three suspects have been charged to court.

In another incident, officers attached to ‘B’ Division, Minna, rescued two suspected phone snatchers from an angry mob after they allegedly robbed passengers of three mobile phones.

The incident occurred at about 11:45 a.m. on July 14, 2026, around Mobil Roundabout in Minna.

The suspects, identified as 20-year-old Hassan Abdullahi and 22-year-old Khalifa Bashir, both from Kano State, allegedly used a commercial tricycle to convey passengers before stealing their phones and attempting to drop them off before reaching their agreed destination.

The passengers reportedly discovered that their phones had been stolen and raised an alarm, attracting a mob that attempted to attack the suspects before police officers intervened.

The suspects are currently in police custody and undergoing investigation. They will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.

The Niger State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in the fight against crime across the State.

Categories: Crime, Niger State, Security

Tags: Niger State Police, Cattle Rustling, Car Theft, Phone Snatching, SP Wasiu Abiodun, Minna, Crime, Security, Nigeria Police

Sources:
Niger State Police Command Statement

— Atinuke Otedola and her Editorial Team