The Niger State Police Command has arrested six suspects in connection with a violent clash between rival youth groups in Minna that left two persons dead following the recent Salah celebrations.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the suspects were apprehended in connection with thuggery activities around the Kpakungu area involving youths from the Kutirko and Kulogbe communities.
According to the police, the clash occurred on May 28 and resulted in the deaths of two persons, prompting an intensive investigation by security operatives.
Those arrested include Nura Abubakar, 20, and Sufyanu Adamu, 20, both from Katsina State; Yunusa Ibrahim, 18, from Niger State; Yahuza Abdullahi, 30, from Sokoto State; Aliyu Abdulhamid, 20, from Bauchi State; and Musa Abubakar, 18, from Sokoto State.
Abiodun said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation aimed at identifying and arresting other accomplices involved in the deadly violence.
In a related development, the police arrested an 18-year-old suspect, Mahmud Usman of Gbeganu, over a viral video in which he allegedly threatened residents of the Gurara, Albishir and Gbeganu communities with acts of thuggery.
The police spokesperson said the suspect had provided useful information on other members of the group, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend them.
Meanwhile, the command also announced the arrest of 26 suspected hoodlums during a raid on criminal hideouts around Malam Auwal Ibrahim Market and adjoining areas in Kwamba, Suleja.
Items recovered during the operation included 38 wraps of suspected cannabis, nine wraps of suspected marijuana, four machetes, an axe, a jackknife and charms.
