Police Arrest Cattle Rustling, Vehicle Theft, Phone Snatching Suspects In Niger

 

The Niger State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its sustained fight against crime, arresting several suspects linked to cattle rustling, vehicle theft, phone snatching and receiving stolen property across different parts of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the arrests were made through intelligence-led operations and prompt police response.

According to the statement, on July 8, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m., the Gawu-Babangida Police Division received information that armed hoodlums had invaded a cattle camp in Lambata at about 2:00 a.m. the same day and rustled two cows.

Police operatives, working alongside local vigilantes, mobilised to the area, recovered the stolen animals and arrested one suspect, Usman Aliyu of Old Gawu via Abaji, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while another suspect escaped.

The recovered cattle were returned to their rightful owner, while the arrested suspect was charged to court. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

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In another operation, the Command arrested two suspects in connection with the theft of a Toyota Corolla belonging to a commercial driver.

SP Abiodun said a report received at Maje Division on July 9, 2026, indicated that a suspect identified as Bala Yusuf hired the driver from Bida to Abuja. During the journey, the suspect allegedly bought food for both of them at Kwamba in Suleja and secretly laced the driver’s meal with a substance.

The unsuspecting driver reportedly became unconscious after they lodged in a hotel for the night, allowing the suspect to make away with the vehicle.

Police investigations led to the recovery of the vehicle from one Mohammed Isah, 42, in Misau, Bauchi State. He claimed to have purchased the car from one Hamza Mohammed, also 42, for ₦1 million.

Both Mohammed Isah and Hamza Mohammed were arrested, while the stolen vehicle was recovered. The prime suspect, Bala Yusuf, remains at large, and efforts are ongoing to arrest him.

The Command also arrested three suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen mobile phones.

According to the statement, detectives attached to Chanchaga Division responded to a report on July 11, 2026, that suspected phone thieves had attempted to steal a handset from a shop in the Kan-Giwa area of Minna.

The operatives arrested Khalifa Musa, 22, and Saminu Mohammed, 23, both of Angwan-Daji, Minna.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to stealing mobile phones and identified one Ibrahim Auwal of Angwan-Sarki as the receiver of the stolen items.

Police subsequently arrested Ibrahim Auwal and recovered one Bajaj motorcycle and five mobile phones. The three suspects have been charged to court.

In a related development, police operatives attached to ‘B’ Division, Minna, rescued two suspected phone snatchers from an angry mob after they allegedly robbed passengers of three mobile phones.

The incident occurred on July 14, 2026, at about 11:45 a.m. around the Mobil Roundabout in Minna.

The suspects, identified as Hassan Abdullahi, 20, and Khalifa Bashir, 22, both from Kano State, allegedly used a commercial tricycle to convey passengers before stealing their phones and attempting to drop them off before the agreed destination.

The passengers reportedly discovered the theft and raised an alarm, attracting a mob that attempted to lynch the suspects before police officers intervened.

The suspects are currently in police custody undergoing investigation and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Niger State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in combating crime across the state.

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