The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 16-year-old and three other individuals in connection with alleged drug offences, kidnapping, and armed robbery in different parts of the state.

The arrests were announced on Sunday in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

The teenage suspect, identified as Usman Aliyu, was apprehended on 8 January in the Kantoma area of Suleja after reports of suspected hoodlums operating in the community.

“Information received indicated that some hoodlums were sighted around Kantoma area of Suleja, smoking suspected cannabis,” the statement read. Abiodun said that police operatives from ‘B’ Division, Suleja, were deployed to the scene.

The suspects attempted to flee, but Aliyu was arrested with four cutlasses, a jackknife, and six sachets of alleged illicit tablets.

According to Abiodun, Aliyu admitted to selling drugs to residents in the area. He has been arraigned in court and is facing prosecution following police investigations.

The statement also detailed the arrest of three other suspects for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.

On 16 January, the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad apprehended Mamman Bello, 18; Ibrahim Adamu, 20; and Umar Abubakar, 25. Bello and Adamu were arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, after reportedly moving from Niger State to Patigi Local Government Area.

“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim joined the group from Beji while Bello also joined from Ogbomosho, and both confessed to different kidnapping activities within the state,” the statement read. Police said the suspects were planning another abduction before their arrest and are currently under further investigation.

Umar Abubakar was arrested in Garatu in connection with an armed robbery in Beji. He reportedly confessed and named other accomplices as Wode, Black, and Moh’d. Police added that the gang sold a stolen motorcycle for six hundred thousand naira at Tunga-Mallam and shared the proceeds, while efforts continue to apprehend remaining members.