Four suspects arrested for fraud, 67 cattle recovered in Niger

The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested four suspected fraudsters allegedly involved in a syndicate that specialises in extorting unsuspecting buyers of stolen vehicles, while also recovering two vehicles and 67 rustled cattle in separate security operations across the State.

Wasiu Abiodun, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, who disclosed this in a statement he issued, explained that the suspects were arrested last week Tuesday following credible intelligence that they were moving a suspected stolen Volkswagen Golf vehicle along Kaduna Road in Suleja to meet a prospective buyer.

According to the statement, operatives attached to Maje Division swiftly mobilised to the area and intercepted the vehicle at about 11 p.m. with four occupants identified as Badamasi Saidu, 30, of Sabon-Wuse; Adamu Musa, 31, of Kaduna Road; Yunusa Mohammed, 47, of Nasarawa; and Mohammed Usman, 35, of Gwagwalada.

The suspects were said to have removed the vehicle’s number plate in an attempt to disguise it as a newly acquired car.

“During a search of the vehicle, the original number plate with registration number MNA 839 AH was recovered. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belong to a syndicate that frames intending buyers as receivers of stolen vehicles and motorcycles,” the statement said.

The police spokesperson added that the suspects allegedly intimidate and extort victims after luring them into purchasing stolen vehicles before forcefully retrieving the vehicles from them.

Further investigation led to the recovery of another Volkswagen vehicle with registration number RSH 24 FD, a Point of Sale (POS) machine allegedly used for financial transactions, and a fake Police Mess identity card said to belong to Badamasi Saidu.

He noted that the suspects are currently under investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

In another operation, joint security operatives reportedly foiled a cattle rustling attack along Mangoro-Idu village in Munya Local Government Area on May 14.

The Police spokesman said the operatives engaged suspected bandits in a gun duel, forcing the attackers to abandon the stolen animals and flee.

“A total of 67 livestock comprising 43 cows and 24 sheep were recovered during the operation and later handed over to their rightful owners in collaboration with the local government authority,” he stated.

Similarly, the command said a police patrol team attached to Maikunkele Division recovered a stray cow suspected to have been stolen after two unidentified suspects abandoned it and fled on sighting the police along Rafin-Yashin area on May 13.

Efforts, according to the police, are ongoing to identify the rightful owner of the animal.

Meanwhile, the command also confirmed the arrest of 20 suspected miscreants linked to thuggery and youth restiveness in Minna.

The suspects were reportedly arrested following a violent clash between students of two secondary schools along Bosso Road on May 11, which disrupted public activities in the area.

Abiodun said Police operatives dispersed the fighting students and subsequently arrested about 20 suspects during follow-up operations conducted between May 13 and May 14.

He further disclosed that another suspected thug was shot in the leg during an attack on police operatives along Gwari Market on May 17.

According to him, the suspect attempted to attack a police officer with an axe after hoodlums mobilised against a patrol team that had pursued him to an uncompleted building.

“The suspect was overpowered and demobilised after attempting to assault a Policeman with an axe. The weapon and substances suspected to be cannabis were recovered, while the injured suspect was taken to the General Hospital for treatment,” he added.