The Police Command in Niger has arrested six suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery in different parts of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued in Minna on Sunday.

Abiodun said on August 21, at about 21:40 hours, Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division, while on patrol along Tunga/Chanchaga Road arrested four suspects.

The spokesman gave their names as Adamu Mamman, Ukasha Umar, Shamsu Garba and Naziru Mohammed, all of Bosso Area of Minna.

He explained that the suspects were arrested at Farm-centre Area of Chanchaga Local Government Area when robbing a female victim with two knives in a tricycle.

“The victim attempted to board a tricycle from Tunga to Chanchaga, while the suspects disguised themselves as passengers in the tricycle with registration number MNA 455 VM.

“The suspects suddenly alighted with two knives, attacked and robbed the victim of her purse containing about N55,000 and her Infinix Hot5 handset valued about N41,000.

“The victim immediately raised alarm which alerted the police patrol team, while the hoodlums quickly zoomed off in their tricycle after robbing her, but after a hot chase by the patrol team, the suspects were apprehended.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime while the two knives and the tricycle used in committing the crime were recovered in their possession,” he said.

The PPRO said already the case is under investigation and the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Similarly, he said on August 23, at about 21:30 hours, acting on credible information, Police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division Suleja arrested two suspects, Abdul Yahaya and Mustapha Abubakar, of Sabo Angwan-Kwamba, Suleja.

Abiodun said that Abdul Yahaya was arrested at an estate in Kwamba, Suleja, where he attempted to snatch a handset from a victim and alarm was raised which attracted mob action.

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“The Police patrol team quickly mobilised to the scene, rescued and arrested him from the mob who had inflicted injury on the suspect.

“During investigation, the Police later conducted a search at the suspect’s residence and the following items were recovered: one locally fabricated pistol with an empty cartridge, one locally fabricated gun, one Dane gun, four knives, three cutlasses, one scissors, one camera, one security light and two AtTM cards.

“Other items included one hammer, one stick, one motorcycle key, two black trousers and a black t-shirt, one black face cap and four wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.”

While Mustapha Abubakar was arrested when he attempted to evacuate some exhibits from one Hamza Hussaini’s residence, who is also a member of the robbery gang but presently at large.

The suspects were equally reported to have robbed some victims at Gabodna Market and made away with three mobile phones, one ATM card and an undisclosed amount of money.

Effort is ongoing to apprehend the said Hamza while the two suspects arrested would be prosecuted immediately after the investigation is concluded, he assured.