Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Niger State Police Command has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums during coordinated raids on criminal hideouts and blackspots in Suleja as security agencies intensified efforts to maintain order ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The operation, carried out on Sunday by police operatives, targeted areas identified by authorities as hubs for thuggery, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts within the Suleja metropolis.
According to the police, the raids were conducted between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. across Kantoma area, Babangida Market and Panteka, popularly known as “Jungle.”
Several dangerous weapons and suspected illicit substances were recovered during the exercise, including clubs locally known as “gora,” cutlasses, swords, axes, knives, scissors and a curved weapon referred to as “garrio.”
Police also recovered 15 mobile phones, ATM cards, fake identity cards and a bag containing suspected cannabis.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He said suspects arrested during the operation were from different states, including Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe and Niger.
Among those arrested at the Panteka area were Haruna Idris, Imrana Abdullahi, Mohammed Isah and Yusuf Surajo, all from Niger State.
Others included Jibrin Shehu, Ahmad Samaila and Jamilu Idris from Katsina State, alongside several suspects from Kano State.
Abiodun also disclosed that some suspects arrested around Kantoma area and Babangida Market were allegedly found in possession of suspected cannabis and other illicit substances.
“Similarly, Auwal Isah, 28, of Kaduna State residing along Madalla Road; Suleiman Abubakar, 28, of Kano State residing around Suleja Club; and Bala Musa, 25, of Kano State, were arrested around Kantoma area, while Ibrahim Shuaibu, 22, of Kano State, was arrested at Babangida Market, all in possession of suspected cannabis and other illicit substances,” he stated.
The police spokesman said all suspects remained in custody and were undergoing interrogation as investigations continued.
He added that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.
Abiodun assured residents that security operations and raids on identified blackspots would continue beyond the festive period to curb criminal activities across the state.
“The Police Command assures that raid operations of identified hideouts and blackspots shall be sustained to ensure a peaceful festivity and beyond, while urging members of the public to report any suspicious situation to the Police for immediate intervention,” he said.
