The Niger State police command says it arrested two suspected car thieves, Abdulfatai Abdulganiyu and Nura Umar, along Mandela Road in Minna, the state capital.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, on Monday, the suspects were arrested on April 15 following an intelligence report.

“On 15th April, 2026, at about 10 a.m., based on intelligence received, police operatives attached to State Intelligence Department (SID) of the command arrested two suspects, who are: Abdulfatai Abdulganiyu, 49 years of Hotoro, Kano and Nura Umar, 28 years of Low-cost area Bida,” Mr Abiodun said.

He stated that the intelligence received indicated that Mr Abdulganiyu is a suspected member of a car-theft syndicate and that he was found to have arrived in Minna from Kano with a stolen vehicle. 

“The suspect was later trailed to a hotel along Mandela road, Minna, where he was arrested with a Honda CRV vehicle bearing Reg. No. ABJ 529 DE.

“During interrogation, he confessed that the vehicle was stolen in Kano, and it was given to him by Musa Abdulrazak,” adding that the suspect took the vehicle from Mr Abdulrazak at the flyover in Kano on April 13.

He noted that the suspect drove to Minna on Tuesday, 14th April 2026, to locate a buyer.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had contacted Nura Umar in Bida to purchase the said vehicle. Nura was immediately arrested by the police in Bida, and he was also found with a Toyota Corolla vehicle with Reg. No. Kaduna MKA 461 MZ,” he said. 

He added that Mr Nura stated that Mr Abdulfatai brought the corolla to him on 8th April 2026, and that he bought it for N1.1 million, paid N700,000 and promised to pay the balance later.

“He further confessed that Abdulfatai told him that he was bringing another vehicle for sale, but he claimed that he does not have the capacity to buy the vehicle for now,“ Mr Wasiu said.

He, however, said the suspects are under further investigation, and efforts are ongoing to arrest other gang members.