A joint patrol team comprising police officers and local vigilante members on August 23, 2025 arrested two suspected assassins at the railway crossing in Beji, Maikunkele, Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.

The suspects, identified as Muhammad Mohammed, 40, and Mohammed Usman, 35, both residents of Beji, were taken into custody following the discovery of weapons and cash.

The state police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said a search of the suspects recovered a locally made pistol, a live cartridge, and a sum of N13,000.

According to SP Abiodun, both individuals admitted during interrogation that they were hired by a local man known as Dogo of Beji to carry out an assassination near the railway crossing.

“The suspects confessed that they were on their way to collect the service charge of N100,000 from Dogo before executing the assignment,” the police statement said.

It added that the suspects had previously received N13,000 from Dogo as transport fees and intended to collect the balance before completing the job.

A preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the motive behind the assassination plot was linked to a personal dispute, as Dogo allegedly targeted the intended victim because he had married Dogo’s former wife.

The suspects are currently in police custody at the Maikunkele Division for initial investigation before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further discreet investigation and prosecution. Authorities have intensified efforts to apprehend Dogo.