Niger police arrest suspects, recover stolen property

The police have arrested several suspects over alleged cyberbullying, defamation, assault and theft, while recovering stolen property and rescuing two children whose father’s vehicle was reportedly taken in Suleja.

The incidents, which occurred between 14 and 19 October, were contained in a crime bulletin issued on Friday by the Niger State command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

In one of the cases, police operatives attached to the command’s Intelligence Department arrested a 30-year-old man, Bello Darlington, of Maikunkele area of Minna, over alleged cyberbullying, falsehood and defamation of character.

The police said the suspect was arrested on 14 October following a complaint about a video posted on his TikTok account, “wethepeople_government,” in which he allegedly accused the Commissioner of Police and the head of an institution of conspiring to take the life of a victim.

According to the bulletin, the suspect could not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation during interrogation.

The police said other videos posted on the account were being scrutinised, adding that further investigation was ongoing before his arraignment.

In a separate incident, a 28-year-old woman, Safiya Tukur, was arrested for allegedly inflicting a deep cut on her husband’s private part with a sharp object during a domestic altercation at their residence in Darusalam area of Kpakungu, Minna.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 10 a.m. on 15 October, following a misunderstanding between the couple.

The police said the victim was rushed to General Hospital, Minna, while the suspect was arrested.

She was subsequently charged to court and remanded, as the trial continued.

In Bida, police operatives rescued a suspected motorcycle thief, Mustapha Suleiman, from a mob that allegedly attempted to lynch him following an incident in the town on October 15.

The police said the suspect was accused of attempting to steal a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number MNA 66 US.

During interrogation, he allegedly identified an accomplice, Aliyu Baba-Ndachiko, of Darachita area, Bida, who is currently at large.

According to the bulletin, the suspect alleged that his accomplice had taken him to Masaba area at about 7:30 p.m. and pointed out a motorcycle parked in front of a shop.

He said he attempted to start the motorcycle but discovered that it had no fuel. His attempt to move it towards Lan-Nzu River reportedly raised suspicion and attracted a crowd.

The motorcycle was recovered, while Suleiman was subsequently charged to court. The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice.

In another operation, police surveillance operatives in Mokwa arrested a 57-year-old man, Yusuf Sani, of Tungan-Noma, over the alleged possession of two stolen cows.

The arrest followed intelligence received on 16 October that the animals had been sighted at the suspect’s residence.

The police said Mr Sani claimed during interrogation that he had received the cows from one Abdullahi Dandamega, of Tungan-Noma village, for safekeeping. Dandamega is currently at large.

The command said the owner of the cows had been identified and contacted, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and other possible accomplices before the case was taken to court.

Meanwhile, police operatives in Suleja rescued two children, aged eight and 12, after recovering their father’s Toyota Highlander, which reportedly went missing with them inside on 19 October.

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The police said the children’s father had driven them to a government school in Suleja to seek admission but was denied entry because they had incomplete documents.

According to the bulletin, the father parked the vehicle by the roadside and handed the keys to the children before leaving to photocopy some documents at a nearby computer centre. On his return, he discovered that both the vehicle and the children were missing.

Following a report received at Maje Division at about 10:32 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer mobilised operatives to the scene, interviewed the school’s security personnel and launched an intensive search along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

The vehicle, bearing registration number ABJ 810 GZ, was subsequently found abandoned along the highway, with the two children stranded but unharmed. The police said the children explained that they had fallen asleep while waiting for their father to return.

The vehicle was recovered and searched, while further investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The command urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to the police to assist efforts to prevent crime and maintain security across Niger State.