The police command in Niger says it has arrested 27 suspected thugs and recovered dangerous weapons and illicit substances during the raid in Kantoma and Panteka areas in Suleja LGA.

The Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Wednesday, said the suspects’ hideout was raided on Sunday during a coordinated operation targeting criminal hideouts and blackspots.

“The operation, which lasted from about 8:30 p.m to 12:00 midnight, covered the Kantoma area, Babangida Market, and Panteka, popularly referred to as ‘Jungle’. During the exercise, a total of 27 suspects were arrested while several dangerous weapons and suspected illicit substances were recovered,” Mr Abiodun said.

Fifteen mobile phones, ATM cards, fake identity cards, ten clubs, cutlasses, swords, garrio, axes, scissors, knives, and a bag of suspected cannabis.

Mr Abiodun said those arrested at the Panteka area included Haruna Idris, 20; Imrana Halilu Abdullahi, 20; Mohammed Isah, 27; Yusuf Surajo, 22 (all from Niger); Jibrin Shehu, 26; Ahmad Samaila, 22; and Jamilu Idris, 23 (all from Katsina).

Also arrested were Auwal Ibrahim, 28; Mohammed Salisu, 20; Murtala Mohammed, 28; Abdulshakur Mohammed, 28; Jibril Abubakar, 30; Hamisu Abdullahi, 27; Hassan Ismail, 29; Mukhtar Adam, 38; Adamu Ibrahim, 27; Abba Ibrahim, 22; Mutawakil Usman, 27; Ibrahim Adam, 26; Aliyu Jibrin, 28; Mohammed Bashir, 30; and Zuhairu Ahmed, 30, all from Kano, alongside Salisu Dauda, 22, from Yobe.

He added that Auwal Isah, 28, from Kaduna and residing along Madalla Road; Suleiman Abubakar, 28, from Kano and residing around Suleja Club; and Bala Musa, 25, from Kano, were arrested around the Kantoma area.

Mr Abiodun said Ibrahim Shuaibu, 22, from Kano, was also arrested at Babangida Market, allegedly in possession of suspected cannabis and other illicit substances.

“All suspects are currently in Police custody, undergoing further investigation and interrogation to ascertain their level of involvement in criminal activities and identify possible accomplices, after which they will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for prosecution accordingly,” Mr Abiodun said.