Niger police catch suspects and recover stolen items

The police have arrested several suspects for cyberbullying, defamation, assault, and theft. They also rescued two children whose father’s vehicle was reportedly taken in Suleja.

These events happened between 14 and 19 October. The Niger State command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, shared these details in a crime bulletin on Friday.

In one case, police operatives from the command’s Intelligence Department arrested a 30-year-old man, Bello Darlington, from Maikunkele area of Minna. He was arrested for cyberbullying, spreading false information, and defaming someone’s character.

The police said they took him in on 14 October after receiving a complaint about a video on his TikTok account, “wethepeople_government.” In the video, he allegedly accused the Commissioner of Police and the head of an institution of plotting to harm a victim.

According to the bulletin, the suspect could not provide proof to back up his claims during questioning. The police are also looking at other videos on his account and said further investigations are ongoing before he goes to court.

In another case, a 28-year-old woman, Safiya Tukur, was arrested after she allegedly cut her husband’s private part with a sharp object during a fight at their house in Darusalam area of Kpakungu, Minna.

This incident happened around 10 a.m. on 15 October after a misunderstanding between the couple. The police said the victim was taken to General Hospital, Minna, while the suspect was arrested.

She was later charged in court and kept in custody as the trial went on.

In Bida, police saved a man, Mustapha Suleiman, from a mob trying to kill him over an alleged motorcycle theft on 15 October. The police said he was accused of trying to steal a Bajaj motorcycle with the registration number MNA 66 US.

During questioning, he named an accomplice, Aliyu Baba-Ndachiko, from Darachita area, Bida, who is still on the run. The suspect claimed his accomplice took him to Masaba area around 7:30 p.m. and pointed out a motorcycle parked outside a shop.

He said he tried to start the motorcycle but found it had no fuel. His attempt to move it caused suspicion, and a crowd gathered. The motorcycle was recovered, and Suleiman faced court charges. The police are still looking for his accomplice.

In another operation, police in Mokwa arrested a 57-year-old man, Yusuf Sani, from Tungan-Noma for allegedly having two stolen cows. This arrest happened after police got a tip on 16 October that the cows were seen at his home.

The police said Mr Sani claimed during questioning that he had received the cows from one Abdullahi Dandamega from Tungan-Noma village for safekeeping. Dandamega is also on the run.

The police have identified and contacted the cows’ owner and are working to catch the other suspect and anyone else involved before taking the case to court.

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

The police said their father had taken them to a government school in Suleja for admission but they were not allowed in due to incomplete documents. The father parked the vehicle at the roadside and gave the keys to the children before going to photocopy documents at a nearby computer centre.

When he returned, both the vehicle and the children were gone. After receiving a report at Maje Division around 10:32 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer sent operatives to the scene, spoke with the school’s security, and began a search along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

The vehicle, with registration number ABJ 810 GZ, was later found abandoned on the highway, and the children were found safe but scared. The police said the children explained they had fallen asleep while waiting for their father.

The vehicle was recovered and checked, while further investigation into the incident is ongoing. The police urge the public to keep sharing credible information to help prevent crime and maintain security across Niger State.