The Niger State Police Command has arrested 139 suspects in connection with a recent unlawful assembly and violent rally in Suleja, with 64 of them arraigned before a magistrate court.*
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, said the Command’s VCRU led by CSP Hassan Gimba was deployed to Suleja on August 4, 2026, following reports that miscreants armed with dangerous weapons were attacking and robbing residents under the guise of a rally.
According to the command, sting operations were conducted in blackspots across Madalla, Kwata, Bakin-Ruwa, Dikko, Kaduna Road, Sabon-Wuse, Gwazunu and Chaza. A total of 139 suspects were arrested.
After screening, 64 suspects were found in possession of large quantities of suspected cannabis, dangerous weapons, scissors, knives, cutlasses and four live cartridges. They were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Suleja for offences including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and possession of dangerous weapons, and were remanded in a correctional centre.
In a separate operation on August 11 at about 4:30am, police raided Talakawa area of Tunga Minna and arrested three suspects: Ashiru Sirajo, 19; Aminu Mahmud, 17; and Dadi Suleiman, 14. Items recovered included a long cutlass, two clubs and a shovel.
Another raid in Sauka-Kahuta led to the arrest of Jibrin Muhammad, 18, with two daggers, an ice bunker, six lighters and suspected cannabis.
On August 9, operatives of Maitumbi Division, working with local vigilantes, arrested four suspected thugs at Challenge Junction: Buhari Aliyu, 25; Shaabal Muhammed, 20; Mubarak Ahmad, 24; and Saifullah Muhammad, 21. They were found with illicit substances and shisha pots.
On August 8, police in Suleja arrested Abraham Ashiwel and Michael Okonkwo for allegedly assaulting a laundry attendant while impersonating military personnel. The suspects reportedly confessed to posing as soldiers since their expulsion from Nigerian Military School, Zaria in 2016 and 2019. Military camouflage uniforms, boots, ID cards and jackknives were recovered.
Police also arrested Ahmed Sani, 31, for receiving three stolen phones belonging to FUT Bosso students. The phones were later recovered and the suspect arraigned.
Two other suspects, Musa Usman alias Musa Kaura and Jamilu Yahaya, both 30, were arrested for thuggery and disturbance of public peace following a clash in Maitumbi. Police said Musa Kaura, a known ex-convict, was on the command’s wanted list.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said investigations are ongoing and suspects will be charged to court.
