By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The police have recovered 50 rounds of live anti- aircraft ammunition abandoned by bandits fleeing from heavy bombardment from the military in Sulupawa village via Rijau to Kumbashi and Kakihum areas of Mariga local government of Niger state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed this in a statement issued in Minna on Thursday.
He explained that the police received a report on 25th June, 2025 at about 9am that suspected bandits attacked Watari village via Rijau and its environs, rustled unconfirmed number of cattle, adding that a subsequent air bombardment from Sulupawa village via Rijau to Kumbashi and Kakihum areas of Mariga left the hoodlums in disarray with casualties.
He said, “during a follow-up assessment of the operation, the Police operatives of Rijau Div with vigilante members recovered fifty (50) rounds of anti-aircraft live ammunition abandoned by the bandits at Biyemu forest on 28th June, 2025 as a result of the bombardment”.
The PPRO said further security assessment and investigation is ongoing with a view to fortify the area against reoccurrence, adding that tactical teams are still being maintained at strategic locations for security coverage.
Meanwhile the police have arrested three suspects in connection with the stealing of a truck containing 900 bags of cement in Gwagwalada area of Abuja.
The PPRO named the suspects as Bashir Isah, Ibrahim Yusuf and Halidu Mohammed all of Gbamita area of Lambata.
He explained that on 22nd June, 2025 around 2.30pm, a report was received at Gawu-Babangida Division that on 21st June, 2025 at about 8am, a Howo truck with Reg. No. HJA 995 XA loaded about 900 bags of cement from Okpella to be delivered to a customer at Gwagwalada, Abuja.
“It was further reported that on reaching Gwagwalada at about 6pm, the truck was parked by the road side to locate the customer, and while waiting for the customer, the driver entered a restaurant to eat, but before he returned, the vehicle was moved to an unknown destination”.
According to him, the driver quickly reported to his manager and the vehicle was tracked to a location in Lambata axis, adding that, ” upon the receipt of this, DPO Gawu-Babangida Division mobilised his patrol team to the area. Fortunately, the vehicle was recovered along Lambata-Lapai road with the cement and the suspects arrested”.
SP Abiodun said that the suspects confessed to the crime with the intention to sell the cement to another buyer and that the case under investigation.
