The police command in Niger has arrested five persons for allegedly breaking into a man’s residence in Minna and stealing his property.

The state Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Dan-Mammam, announced this to journalists in Minna on Tuesday.

He said the case against the suspects would be criminal conspiracy, thuggery, armed robbery, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, and possession of large quantities of substances suspected to be hemp (marijuana).

Mr Dan-Mammam said the police had received a distressed call from one Ibrahim Dadau of the Brighter area of Minna that a group of armed robbers invaded his house, inflicted injuries on him and molested his family.

“The robbers stole a car, his wife’s jewellery valued at N3.5 million, two television sets, a fan, and N2.2 million cash, among others.

“Credible intelligence from community-based policing led to the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

The commissioner said the suspects had confessed to a series of thuggery and armed robbery operations in Minna.

“Through our investigation and the suspects’ confessions, an SUV car, light blue colour marked NIGER AG 400 PAK, was recovered alongside one PoS machine, a television set and two fans, among others.

“However, investigation is still in progress,” he said.

(NAN)