Six Suspects Arrested for Murder and Kidnapping in Niger State

The police have arrested six suspects in different operations for alleged murder, motorcycle theft, and kidnapping in Niger State.

Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the police state command, shared this information in a statement on Wednesday.

He said officers from the Maikunkele Division, along with the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), arrested Mohammed Ibrahim, 25, also known as Manga. He is linked to the alleged murder of a commercial motorcyclist.

According to the police, Ibrahim, who lives in the Gusasse area of Bosso Local Government Area, allegedly hired Shehu Mohammed, 23, a commercial motorcyclist from Pai village, on September 30 to take him from Beji to Garatu village.

The police stated that while returning from Garatu around midnight, on the Gidan-Kwano-Maikunkele road, Ibrahim reportedly conspired with two accomplices, identified as Risku and another person, to attack the motorcyclist.

"The victim was attacked and beheaded, while his new Bajaj motorcycle was taken away by the assailants," the statement said.

The police said Ibrahim confessed his involvement during questioning. They also recovered the stolen motorcycle and a cutlass from him.

He remains in police custody, and efforts are ongoing to catch his alleged accomplices.

In another operation, the police arrested five suspects for their alleged roles in kidnapping and ransom activities.

The suspects are Abubakar Mohammed, 23, also known as Sidi; Aliyu Abubakar, 25, also known as Hiri; Legi Zangara, 20; Ibrahim Abubakar, 20; and Abubakar Musa, 20.

According to the statement, Mohammed was arrested in Jebba on September 28 after intelligence reports linked him to kidnapping cases.

The police claimed he admitted to being part of a gang led by a suspect named Gide, which operates around Ibbi village and uses the Ibbi forest as a hideout.

He reportedly confessed to participating in about three kidnapping operations where ransom was paid.

Aliyu Abubakar was arrested in Zugurma village on September 30. The police mentioned that initial investigations connected him to a gang operating under someone known as Batijo around Gugu Forest in Kwara State.

The statement also alleged that he communicated with a person named Usman about plans to collect two AK-47 rifles from another suspect, Auta, for planned kidnapping operations in Niger State.

Zangara was arrested near Macrean Bridge in Mashegu on September 24 and was linked to a different kidnapping case.

The police said he confessed to being part of a seven-member gang allegedly contracted by a suspect called Dogo, who is still at large, to abduct a victim in August.

The gang reportedly collected N3.5 million as ransom before releasing the victim.

The other two suspects, Ibrahim and Musa, are said to be members of another kidnapping group operating around Macrean Bridge in Mashegu.

The police stated that both men, from Kebbi State, allegedly traveled to Niger State to commit crimes before going back home.

They reportedly confessed to being part of a kidnapping operation where N3 million was collected as ransom before the victim was released.

The police mentioned that the five suspects are in custody and will be charged in court after investigations are complete.

Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, reaffirmed the command's commitment to fighting violent crime and bringing suspects to justice.

He encouraged residents to provide credible information to help prevent crime and catch suspects.

The allegations against the suspects have not been tested in court.