The Niger State Police Command has arrested three suspects accused of impersonating Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) operatives to abduct and rob students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai.

A statement issued on Friday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said that two informants who allegedly aided the suspects were also taken into custody.

Abiodun said the police received a report around 8:00 p.m. on May 13 that four individuals had entered an off-campus lodge of the students, claiming to be EFCC operatives, and abducted two students.

The suspects reportedly used a Toyota Corolla car with registration number ABJ 245 CU to transport the victims.

Police operatives attached to the Lapai Division traced and intercepted the vehicle at Suleja Road near Kwakuti, where the suspects were arrested.

The arrested suspects are Emmanuel Linus, 30, from Deidei; Hyelda Aliyu, 28, from Nyanya; and Abduljallid Tanko, 33, from Karu — all residents of Abuja.

One suspect, Alfa James, reportedly escaped during the arrest.

During interrogation, the suspects admitted to being recruited by their informants and said the operation was their means of livelihood.

“They entered one of the students’ rooms carrying three electric tasers disguised as guns, collected five phones, and abducted two persons,” Abiodun said.

The suspects demanded an initial ransom of N10 million from the students, which was later negotiated down to N500,000 before their arrest.

Further investigation revealed that the fake EFCC identification cards used were produced at a shop in Nyanya, Abuja, all bearing the same identification number 1069.

The informants arrested were identified as Mohammed Hassan and Hamisu Adamu, both from Angwan-Hausa in Lapai.

Abiodun added that Emmanuel Linus had a criminal record as a dismissed soldier convicted two years ago.

Investigation continues at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with plans to prosecute the suspects once inquiries conclude.