The Niger State Police Command has arrested four suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 42 sheep in Mokwa area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a crime bulletin issued on March 1, 2026.
“As part of the sustained fight against crime and criminality in the state, police operatives attached to the Crack Squad, on February 24, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., acted on credible intelligence and arrested four suspected cattle rustlers,” Abiodun said.
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He identified the suspects as Abubakar Musa, 23, of Maito village via Lemu; Muhammed Ibeto, 20; Bello Saidu, 20; and Abubakar Alhaji Shehu, 20, all from Kara via Jebba.
According to him, “information was received that the suspects were sighted around Raba forest via Mokwa with suspected rustled animals.The operatives trailed them along the Jebba–Mokwa road, where four members of the syndicate were arrested, while others escaped into the forest.”
Abiodun added that the suspects confessed during interrogation.
“The suspects confessed to having rustled the sheep from Salihu village via Mokwa and mentioned other members of their gang. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he said.
He further stated that “a total of 42 sheep were recovered, and the rightful owner was contacted and has claimed the animals.”
In a related operation, the police said it intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected stolen solid minerals in Minna.
“Earlier on Monday, February 23, 2026, at about 10:00 p.m., a Ford vehicle with registration number MNA 909 LD was intercepted by the same Crack Squad at the City Gate area of Minna, loaded with 10 bags of zircon monazite suspected to have been stolen,” the police spokesperson said.
He explained that “the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting the police, while preliminary investigation revealed that the items were stolen from an industrial company along Bida Road. Investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the command also confirmed the arrest of a suspect for motorcycle theft and attempted homicide in Bida.
Abiodun said, “On February 19, 2026, at about 7:30 p.m., two suspects boarded a commercial motorcycle, and on reaching the back of Ndayako Primary School, one of them struck the rider on the head with a pestle and attempted to escape with the motorcycle.”
He added that “the rider raised an alarm, which attracted residents. One of the suspects, Ibrahim Ahmed Musa, was arrested with the motorcycle, while the second suspect, Ndagi Mohammed Jibril, escaped.”
“The arrested suspect is currently in custody at ‘A’ Division, Bida, for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect,” Abiodun said.
The police urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information.
