Garba Mohammed, the traditional head of Guiwa village, has been arrested by security operatives for allegedly aiding and sheltering armed bandits operating in the Mashegu area of Niger State.
Thirteen other individuals were also apprehended during the same operation.
According to the Niger State Police Command, the arrests were made on Friday during a joint raid by police and local vigilante groups targeting known criminal hideouts in Guiwa and Telle villages.
The operation is part of an ongoing campaign to clear out bandit strongholds in the region.
Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said Mohammed was accused of providing support and sanctuary to the criminals.
“On 23rd May, 2025, at about 9am, in continuation of this operation, the team stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible information received, and the Mai-Angwan of Guiwa village Mall,” Abiodun stated.
He further explained the basis for the arrest, citing material evidence found at the scene.
“Garba Mohammed was arrested for screening and aiding banditry activities, using his house as a hideout, with recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle.”
“Thirteen others were also arrested in different locations within Mashegu LGA for similar reasons,” he added.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that the previous day, May 22nd, security personnel had carried out similar clearance operations in the Mashegu area, specifically targeting kidnappers’ camps within the Magaman-Daji forest.
“In furtherance of clearance operations in Mashegu areas against banditry and other violent crimes, on 22nd May, 2025, police operatives and vigilante members conducted clearance operations in some identified kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA such as Magaman-Daji forest and its environs, and in the process, most of the suspected kidnappers fled from the scene and others were believed to have escaped with gunshots injuries,” the statement read.
Abiodun confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the village head’s involvement, as well as that of the other suspects, in the wider banditry activities plaguing the region.
