The Niger State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects during a series of coordinated raids across the state, recovering weapons and suspected cannabis as part of a wider operation against crime and criminal hideouts.
The largest number of arrests came from Suleja and surrounding communities, where 139 suspects were picked up after police launched an operation following reports of a violent rally and attacks on members of the public.
Police said 64 of those arrested during the Suleja operation were allegedly found with suspected cannabis, knives, cutlasses, scissors, other dangerous weapons and four live cartridges. The suspects were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Suleja and remanded in custody.
The charges against the suspects include criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, aiding and abetting, harbouring suspected criminals, possession of dangerous weapons and other related offences.
In Minna, police carried out separate raids on suspected criminal hideouts in the Talakawa area of Tunga, Sauka-Kahuta and Maitumbi.
During the operations, officers recovered a cutlass, clubs, daggers, suspected cannabis, lighters, illicit substances and shisha pots from some of the suspects, according to the Niger State Police Command.
Among those arrested were teenagers and young adults, with police identifying several suspects between the ages of 14 and 25.
The command said investigations were continuing into some of the cases, while suspects found to have committed offences would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
The Niger State Police Command said the raids were part of its ongoing effort to dismantle criminal groups, clear suspected blackspots and improve security across different parts of the state.