Police in Niger State have arrested a village head and 13 other suspects for allegedly providing logistical support and shelter to terrorists operating in the Mashegu Local Government Area.
The village head of Guiwa in the LGA, Garba Mohammed, was arrested on May 23, 2025, during a joint clearance operation conducted by police officers, hunters, and vigilante groups targeting bandit camps in Guiwa and Telle villages.
Confirming the arrests to NEWSNGR, the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat banditry and violent crimes in the Mashegu area.
“In furtherance of clearance operations in Mashegu areas against banditry and other violent crimes, on 22nd May, 2025 Police operatives and vigilante members conducted clearance operations in some identified kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA such as Magaman-Daji forest and its environs, and in the process, most of the suspected kidnappers fled from the scene and others were believed to have escaped with gunshots injuries,” said Abiodun.
During a search of the village head’s residence, security operatives reportedly recovered four motorcycles, one live cartridge, and ten cattle believed to have been stolen by bandits. Three of the injured cattle were slaughtered to prevent further suffering.
Quoting him, “Similarly, on 23rd May, 2025 at about 9am, in continuation of this operation, the team stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible information received, and the Mai-Angwan of Guiwa village Mall. Garba Mohammed was arrested for aiding banditry activities, using his house as a hideout with recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle,” said Abiodun.
He further revealed that thirteen others were arrested in different locations within Mashegu LGA for similar reasons, adding that they are under interrogation and investigation is in progress to ascertain their roles and involvement in banditry activities in the area.
The 13 other suspects arrested from various communities include:
Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu – Wawa village, Borgu LGA
Umar Abubakar – Gwajibo
Musa Mohammed – Telle
Mohammed Abubakar – Dukku, Rijau LGA
Molema Aliyu – Pallagi
Oro Abubakar – Arera
Shehu Alhaji Ardo – Adogon Mallam
Umar Abdullahi – Lumma
Ibrahim Abubakar – Lumma
Saidu Mohammed – Lumma
Babuga Abdullah – Lumma
Mohamadu Bako – Gwajibo
Babuga Saidu – Lumma
Earlier, security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagalola Makama, who monitors Lake Chad region security issues, confirmed the arrests through social media posts detailing the operation.
Makama said the suspects’ arrest occurred on Friday: “The arrests were made on May 23, 2025, during an ongoing clearance operation by a joint team of police officers, hunters, and local vigilantes targeting bandits’ camps and hideouts in Guiwa and Telle villages”, Zagalola tweeted.
“The village head, Mai Anguwa Garba Mohammed, was apprehended on reasonable suspicion of providing shelter and logistical support to the bandits. The others arrested are residents from various nearby communities suspected of collaboration with the criminals”.
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