Police recover dangerous weapons and illicit substances during coordinated operations targeting criminal hideouts across Minna

Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested a wanted notorious thug, Abdulkarim Mohammed, also known as “Na-Kareemu,” along with 26 other suspects during coordinated raids on criminal hideouts across Minna, recovering dangerous weapons and suspected illicit substances.

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The operations, carried out between July 4 and July 6, targeted several identified black spots in the Niger State capital as part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime and restore public order.

Confirming the arrests on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said officers attached to the Tudun-Wada Division and ‘A’ Division, Minna, conducted separate intelligence-led operations that led to the apprehension of the suspects.

According to Abiodun, the first operation took place on July 4 and 5, when police operatives raided black spots around Kafintella, Sauka-Kahuta and Building Materials Road.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects identified as Rabiu Hassan, Musa Zaidu, Hassan Alhassan, Dahiru Mohammad, Abubakar Yahaya, Awwal Muhammad, Sadiq Ahmed, Muhammad Audu, Hassan Usman and Abdulahim Jibril.

Police recovered a long curved sharp sickle, a digger, a stick and a shovel from the suspects.

“During interrogation, they confessed that they had come from Yobe State to Minna for illegal mining activities. The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, for further investigations,” Abiodun said.

In a second operation carried out between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on July 6, officers attached to ‘A’ Division raided criminal hideouts around the PZ area, Angwan-Kaje, Saiko, Abdusalam Quarters, Tudun-Natsira and Paida.

The operation led to the arrest of 17 additional suspects, including the Niger police arrest wanted thug target, Abdulkarim Mohammed, who had allegedly been evading arrest over several criminal offences.

“Among the suspects arrested is a notorious and most wanted thug known as Abdulkarim Mohammed, alias ‘Na-Kareemu’, who has been on the run, evading police arrest over some of the atrocities he had committed,” Abiodun stated.

The police spokesperson added that officers recovered four cutlasses, two knives, cannabis and other suspected illicit substances during the operation.

All the suspects are currently in police custody while investigations continue to determine their level of involvement in various criminal activities and to identify possible accomplices.

The latest arrests form part of the Niger State Police Command’s intensified crackdown on violent gangs, thuggery, illicit drug activities and other organised crimes in Minna and surrounding communities.

In recent months, the command has increased intelligence-led raids on identified criminal flashpoints across the state in response to concerns over youth violence, armed robbery, cult-related activities and illegal mining operations.

Also read: Nigeria Police Secure Convictions in Major Katsina Arms Trafficking and Terrorism Case

Security agencies have maintained that sustained enforcement, community cooperation and timely intelligence remain essential to disrupting criminal networks and improving public safety.