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Saturday, September 26, 2026

Police nab two suspects for alleged car theft in Niger village

The suspected soldier and one other took to their heels, while the other two were arrested.

• September 25, 2026
Police officers
Police officers used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]

The police command in Niger State has arrested two suspects for alleged car theft and recovered military uniforms, among other items, at Tungan-Mallam village in the Paiko area of the state.

This was disclosed on Friday by Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s spokesman, in a statement.

“On 20/09/2026 at about 5:50p.m, credible information was received at Paiko Div which indicated that on the same date at about 5p.m, a Mazda vehicle with Reg. No PHC 544 BP, suspected to have been stolen, was intercepted at Tungan-Mallam Village via Paiko,” he said.

He stated that a police team attached to the division mobilised to the scene and arrested two suspects.

The suspects are Ogbonna David, 34, of Ogba LGA, and Chidiebere Okonkwo, 30, of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Mr Wasiu said the vehicle was recovered from the suspects and, when searched, other items discovered included four solar batteries, two Android phones, one keypad phone, two gas cylinders and three pairs of military camouflage.

Other items included one pair of boots, one green beret, three passport photographs belonging to a military personnel, N26,000, one knife and one bag containing spanners.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that there were four suspects in the vehicle with a suspected soldier, used as escort, came from Abuja to the Brighter area of Minna and vandalised a communication mast, where they stole the batteries and attempted to escape back to Abuja,” he said.

He stated that the suspects were trailed, and a security post along Lambata Road was alerted, but when the suspects sighted the security men along Lambata Road, they turned back and followed the Paiko-Lapai Road, where they were later intercepted at Tungan-Mallam.

According to him, immediately they were intercepted, the suspected soldier and one other took to their heels, while the other two were arrested.

He added that the suspects had been transferred to the SCID in Minna for further investigation and prosecution, stating that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

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