The Niger State Police Command have arrested a 16-year-old suspect and three other persons over alleged drug-related offences, kidnapping and armed robbery in different parts of the state.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Niger Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

According to the statement, the teenage suspect was arrested on January 8, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. in the Kantoma area of Suleja following reports that suspected hoodlums were operating in the area.

“Information received indicated that some hoodlums were sighted around Kantoma area of Suleja, smoking suspected cannabis,” the statement read.

Abiodun said operatives attached to ‘B’ Division, Suleja, were mobilised to the scene, adding that the suspects attempted to flee on sighting the police.

“On sighting the Police team, the hoodlums took to their heels but one Usman Aliyu, 16 years, was arrested within the area with four cutlasses, one jackknife and six sachets of illicit tablets,” the statement said.

On the suspect’s admission, the police spokesperson stated,“ The suspect confessed to having been selling the drugs to different persons in the area.”

He added that the suspect was arraigned in court for prosecution after investigation.

The statement also disclosed the arrest of three other suspects over alleged kidnapping and armed robbery activities.

“On 16th January, 2026, based on a tip-off, Police operatives of the FID STS arrested three suspects; Mamman Bello, 18 years; Ibrahim Adamu, 20 years; and Umar Abubakar, 25 years,” the statement said.

According to the police, Bello and Adamu were arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, following intelligence that suspected kidnappers had relocated from Niger State to a forest in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim joined the group from Beji while Bello also joined from Ogbomosho, and both confessed to different kidnapping activities within the State,” the statement read.

The police added that the suspects were planning to abduct another victim before their arrest and are currently undergoing further investigation.

On Umar Abubakar, the statement said he was arrested in Garatu for his involvement in an armed robbery incident in Beji.

“He confessed to the crime and mentioned others as Wode, Black, Moh’d and one other,” the statement said.

The command further disclosed that, “they sold the motorcycle at the rate of six hundred thousand naira at Tunga-Mallam and shared the proceeds,” adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang. (PUNCH)

Update news