The Niger State Police Command has apprehended a dismissed soldier, Michael Musa, for alleged impersonation, fraud, and theft within the state.
In a statement issued yesterday, the command disclosed that a case of criminal breach of trust, fraud, and theft was referred from a Magistrate’s Court to Tudun-Wada Police Division on May 27, at about 2:30 p.m.
Three victims reported that on May 12, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a man dressed as a soldier approached a Point of Sale (PoS) shop near Musa Bello Primary School in Bida, deceitfully collected N120,000, and fled.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that the same suspect was involved in a similar incident on May 23, at about 9:30 a.m., when he reportedly collected N300,000 from another PoS operator in Kataeregi, before escaping. On May 29, at around 4:00 p.m., he struck again at a PoS outlet along Mandela Road in Minna, taking N50,000 from another victim.
Abiodun said police detectives, leveraging intelligence, arrested Michael Musa of Mandela Road, Minna, in connection with the crimes. The suspect, apprehended in military attire, confessed during interrogation to the series of incidents, claiming he was a soldier dismissed in 2022 in Benin, Edo State.
The spokesperson added that the case remains under investigation, with additional victims reportedly coming forward with similar complaints.
In a separate development, the Niger State Police Command announced the arrest of two suspects for threatening to kidnap an individual unless a ransom of N30 million was paid.
According to the command, the incident occurred on May 26, at about 7:00 p.m., when a report was lodged at Maje Police Division in Suleja. The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Sheriff, 18, of Kuki village, Dutsenma, Katsina State, and Hamisu Dalhatu, 25, of Furakirke, Sokoto State, allegedly conspired to issue the threats via phone.
Police operatives tracked and apprehended the suspects, recovering a mobile phone and the SIM card used to make the threat calls. Abiodun stated that this case is also under investigation.
