The Niger State Police Command has arrested nine suspects linked to the murder of Suleja resident Alhaji Monsa and a robbery syndicate operating in Suleja and surrounding areas.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun said the arrests followed a distress call on June 10 after a Jincheng motorcycle was snatched in Rafin-Chinaka, Maje. Officers pursued the suspects toward Zuba and arrested Bitrus James with the stolen bike.
Investigations led to the arrest of Aminu Ibrahim, Gali Ibrahim Abubakar, Ibrahim Idris, Samaila Nasiru, Mohammed Sani, Dorcas Thomas, Rejoice Samaila, and Musa Lawal.
Police said Bitrus James, Aminu Ibrahim, Gali Ibrahim Abubakar, Ibrahim Idris, and two others still at large formed an armed robbery gang terrorizing Suleja, Kwamba, and nearby communities.
James and Ibrahim confessed to killing Alhaji Monsa on May 31 behind Niger Motel in Suleja. The victim was allegedly stabbed with a jackknife before his motorcycle and bag were taken.
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Lawal, described as a major receiver of stolen motorcycles, admitted receiving several bikes from the gang and sending them through Sani to buyers in Katsina, Kaduna, and other states. He was also accused of trying to bribe the Divisional Police Officer on the case.
Nasiru allegedly managed a boutique in Jabi where the gang stored firearms and weapons. Rejoice Samaila reportedly harbored James, while Thomas provided her details to open an account for laundering proceeds.
Recovered items include two locally made revolvers, an axe, a jackknife, live and empty cartridges, a laptop, the victim’s bag, motorcycle parts, phones, and ATM cards.
All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
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