The Nigeria Police Force in Niger State has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums from Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, and Niger states as part of efforts to ensure a peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Operatives of the command carried out raids within Suleja metropolis at identified criminal hideouts and blackspots believed to harbour thugs and other suspected miscreants disturbing public peace.
The operation, conducted on Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., covered Kantoma area, Babangida Market and Panteka, popularly known as “Jungle.”
According to the police, several dangerous weapons and suspected illicit substances were recovered during the raids.
Items recovered included 15 mobile phones, ATM cards, fake identity cards, 10 clubs locally known as “gora,” cutlasses, swords, a curved long weapon popularly called “garrio,” two axes, scissors, knives and a bag containing suspected cannabis.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Abiodun said the following suspects were arrested at the Panteka area known as “Jungle”: Haruna Idris, 20; Imrana Abdullahi, 20; Mohammed Isah, 27; and Yusuf Surajo, 22, all from Niger State.
Others arrested include Jibrin Shehu, 26; Ahmad Samaila, 22; and Jamilu Idris, 23, all from Katsina State.
He added that Auwal Ibrahim, 28; Mohammed Salisu, 20; Murtala Mohammed, 28; Abdulshakur Mohammed, 28; Jibril Abubakar, 30; Hamisu Abdullahi, 27; Hassan Ismail, 29; Mukhtar Adam, 38; Adamu Ibrahim, 27; Abba Ibrahim, 22; Mutawakil Usman, 27; Ibrahim Adam, 26; Aliyu Jibrin, 28; Mohammed Bashir, 30; and Zuhairu Ahmed, 30, all from Kano State, alongside Salisu Dauda, 22, from Yobe State, were also arrested.
“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,” Abiodun stated.
The police spokesman said all the suspects were in custody, undergoing investigation and interrogation to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities and identify possible accomplices.
He added that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for prosecution.
Abiodun assured residents that raid operations would continue beyond the festive period to maintain public peace and security.
“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.
