By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state Police Command says it has arrested three students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai over alleged cultism.
The state Police Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Minna.
Abiodun said that the suspects identified as Tanko Augustine Solomon 27 years, Idris Hamza 25 years and Idris Hayatullahi 25 years were arrested in their respective off-campus accommodations following a tip-off.
“During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be IBBU students, as Tanko confessed that they belong to the Neo-black movement (NBM) and his mission was to initiate more students from the school to fight for the black racism movement.
“Further investigation revealed that he has been leading fights to other campuses and that he severed his stepmother’s left hand recently over a mere argument at Maikunkele area of Minna,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the police recovered exhibits including one locally-made pistol with five cartridges, two axes, one red regalia with the inscription of NBM, two packets of white candles, and eight pieces of red candles from the suspects.
This is in addition to one packet of razor blades, two mosquito sprays, two lighters, and four kola nuts.
Abiodun added that the suspects have been charged in court and the Police have commenced efforts to arrest other members of the gang.
In another development, the statement confirmed the arrest of three suspected armed robbers and the recovery of firearms.
The suspects, Suleman Yahaya 21 years, Umar Suleman 25 years, and Khalifa Abdulrahman 18 years all from the Deidei area of Abuja were allegedly arrested by police operatives attached to Tafa division after a foiled robbery attempt on the streets of Lolo Layout, Dakwa area in Tafa local government area of Niger State.
“Police operatives attached to Tafa Div while on routine patrol around Lolo Layout, Dakwa area responded to a distress call of an attempted robbery on the street in the area.
“On sighting the Police team, the robbery suspects took to their heels and they were pursued and trailed to a tea seller kiosk around Nato garage, Deidei Abuja,” the statement said.
According to Abiodun, the suspects confessed to being members of a robbery syndicate terrorizing Dakwa, Deidei, and its environs.
“They mentioned three others at large as Hassan, Lamar, and Bakano while a search was conducted in the kiosk and the following items were recovered from them;-one double-barrel pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun, 264 wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one cutlass, knife, and three scissors, one white t-shirt and a vigilante shirt were recovered.
He added that the investigation was ongoing as well as efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
