The Niger State Police Command has rescued and arrested a suspected motorcycle thief belonging to a syndicate that specializes in snatching motorcycles from being lynched by irate members of the public at the General Hospital, Minna, the Niger state capital.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, made this known in Minna, saying that on 20th May 2025, at about 5:30 pm, a distress call was received from the General Hospital area, Minna, reporting that a mob almost lynched a suspected motorcycle thief within the area.
He explained that immediately, a police patrol team from ‘A’ Division Minna rushed to the scene, rescued, and arrested one suspect named Basiru Abubakar, 35 years old, from Sokoto State.
According to him, during the course of investigation, it was revealed that the suspect belonged to a syndicate of motorcycle snatchers, and that he was with another member of the gang who is presently at large.
He stated, “Both of them boarded a motorcycle from Kure Market to a location. They stopped the rider along the way on the pretense that one of them wanted to see somebody.
“Basiru and the rider were waiting when the suspect gave the motorcyclist a candy, which he collected and licked. He became dizzy, weak, and the suspect took the motorcycle away.”
However, Abiodun revealed that a witness who observed the whole situation suspected foul play and followed the suspect to a location around the General Hospital before raising an alarm.
The case is under investigation, and the suspect will be charged to court in due course.
