Police arrest seven suspected thugs over revenge attacks in Minna

The Niger State Police Command has arrested seven suspected thugs over recurring attacks in parts of Minna, recovering weapons and suspected cannabis.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued on November 5, 2026. 

The suspects, aged between 20 and 27, were arrested at about 4:30 a.m. on October 29 by operatives of the Anti-Thuggery Unit during a sting operation in Albishir, following credible intelligence. 

According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations linked the attacks to a reprisal following a violent confrontation at a party in Albishir in 2025, which reportedly resulted in the death of Sani Mohammed of Gurara.

Police said youths from Gurara subsequently planned retaliation and attacked Alhassan Isyaku of Albishir while he was carrying out furniture work in Gurara.

During the incident, Aliyu Isah reportedly sustained a deep cut to his right leg and other injuries around his neck.

“In view of the recent thuggery activities in parts of Minna, mostly in Gbeganu/Gurara, Kafintela/Samande and Angwan-Biri, Bosso, the Police Command responded as follows; on 29th October, 2026 at about 04.30am, based on credible information received, Police operatives of Anti-thuggery unit, stormed Albishir area of Minna over the incessant attacks of suspected thugs around Gurara, Albishir and Gbeganu areas,” the statement read.

"Based on this, the team conducted a sting operation and the following suspects were arrested; Abdullahi Hassan 20yrs of Nyikangbe via Albishir, Shafiu Yahaya 25yrs of Gurara, Mohammed Abdullahi 26yrs of Albishir, Idris Bashir 24yrs of Gurara, Idris Mohammed 22yrs of Gurara, Alhassan Isyaku 26yrs of Albishir and Aliyu Isah 27yrs of Albishir. 

"Having arrested the suspects, a search was carried out in their various residences which led to the recovery of the following exhibits: sword and one cutlass recovered from Abdullahi Hassan, one cutlass and one knife recovered from Shafiu Yahaya, one cutlass and a quantity of suspected cannabis recovered from Mohammed Abdullahi and one cable/wire recovered from Idris Bashir.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the incessant attacks were connected to a reprisal arising from a violent confrontation during a party in 2025 at Albishir which led to the death of one Sani Moh'd of Gurara. 

"It was established that Gurara youths planned to retaliate, and as a result, later attacked Alhassan Isyaku from Albishir who went to do some furniture work in Gurara.

"During this attack, Aliyu Isah sustained a deep cut injury on his right leg, as well as other injuries around the neck. 

"The suspects were further investigated and charged to court for conspiracy, thuggery and causing grievous injury.

"Previously on 16th October, 2026 at about 10am, some hoodlums from Kafintela reportedly invaded Samande area of Tunga, breaking shops and fighting, which led to the death of a victim from Kafintela.

"Police patrol teams including 12pmf personnel mobilised to the scene and the following suspects were arrested; Maikailu Yakubu 16yrs
-Badamasi Abdullahi 18yrs
-Yusuf Shafiu 19yrs
-Musa Umar 16yrs
-Sanusi Dauda 20yrs
-Sani Abdullahi 20yrs
-Umar Suleiman 16yrs
-Ibrahim Isah 16yrs
-Abdulrazak Yunusa 16yrs
-Sani Sadiq 25yrs
-Shuaibu Salisu 15yrs, all of Kafintela.

“All suspects were transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation and charged to court accordingly.”