Niger: Police arrest suspects over armed robbery, tricycle theft

The Niger State Police Command has arrested suspects in separate operations involving alleged armed robbery, tricycle theft and possession of suspected stolen property in parts of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, disclosed that operatives attached to Maje Division arrested one Ghali Bello, 43, over the alleged theft of a tricycle belonging to a trader at Auwal Ibrahim Market, Kwamba.

The victim had reported that his newly acquired tricycle with registration number MNA 125 VM was stolen from where it was parked after work on May 8, 2026.

He explained that following the complaint, police detectives launched an investigation and, with the aid of technical intelligence, traced the tricycle to Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, where it was recovered from the suspect.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly claimed he received the tricycle from one Sani of Kwamba Motor Park, who is currently at large.

However, police investigations later revealed that Ghali Bello worked in the same market and had served as guarantor to the victim during the hire-purchase agreement for the tricycle valued at about N8 million.

The suspect and the recovered tricycle are currently in police custody for further investigation.

In another development, Abiodun said police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division arrested two suspects, Abba Umar, 28, and Zakariya Abubakar, 23, both of Sabon-Titi, Minna, for alleged armed robbery.

The suspects were said to have stormed a hotel in the Maitumbi area armed with dangerous weapons and dispossessed guests of their phones and other valuables.

The police image maker said the suspects were arrested following a distress call from the hotel manager, while cutlasses allegedly used during the operation were recovered from them.

The command added that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, police patrol operatives attached to Mokwa Division also arrested one Hussaini Mohammed, 27, of Guye-Doko village in Kwara State, with a Bajaj motorcycle suspected to be stolen.

According to the PRO, the suspect confessed during interrogation that the motorcycle belonged to his father and that he intended to sell it in Kontagora without his father’s consent.

The motorcycle was recovered, while the suspect has been charged to court for prosecution.

Niger: Police arrest suspects over armed robbery, tricycle theft