Police arrest 20 suspected thugs in Niger, recover weapons

The Niger State police command has arrested 20 suspected thugs terrorising parts of Minna, the state capital, and recovered dangerous weapons during a raid.

In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said a fight between students of two secondary schools on May 11, 2026, caused chaos along Bosso Road.

“On 11th May 2026 at about 2pm, some young students of two different secondary schools engaged in a public fight along Bosso road causing chaos on the public road.

“Police patrol team of Central Police Station responded and the thugs were dispersed, and in a follow-up effort on 13th-14th May 2026, about twenty among the miscreants were arrested in different locations within the town,” he said.

Mr Abiodun also said that on May 17, police operatives on patrol along Gwari Market sighted a notorious thug carrying a bag suspected to contain cannabis while riding a motorcycle.

“On noticing the patrol team, the suspect escaped to an uncompleted building by Abdulsalam Qtrs,” he said.

According to him, police officers advanced to the area, but hoodlums mobilised in large numbers and attacked the team with dangerous weapons.

“One of the miscreants attempted to attack a policeman with an axe and was shot in the leg and subdued,” Mr Abiodun said.

He added that the axe and suspected cannabis were recovered, while the injured suspect was taken to the General Hospital for treatment.