The village head of Guiwa community in Niger State, Garba Mohammed, has been arrested alongside 13 others for allegedly aiding and abetting armed bandits operating in the Mashegu Local Government Area.
The arrest took place on Friday during a coordinated security operation involving police operatives and local vigilante groups. The raid targeted known bandit camps and hideouts in Guiwa and Telle villages, as part of an ongoing crackdown on violent criminal activity in the region.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement on Sunday that Mohammed was accused of providing shelter and logistical support to the bandits.
"On May 23, 2025, around 9 a.m., security operatives stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible intelligence. The village head, Mallam Garba Mohammed, was arrested for screening and aiding bandit activities by using his residence as a hideout,” Abiodun stated.
During the search of Mohammed’s home, four motorcycles and ten cattle believed to belong to the bandits were recovered.
Thirteen other individuals were also apprehended across various locations in Mashegu LGA for allegedly offering similar support to the criminals.
Abiodun further disclosed that a day earlier, on May 22, security forces had carried out operations in several suspected kidnappers’ hideouts, including the Magaman-Daji forest and surrounding areas.
"In the course of the clearance operation, most of the suspects fled, while some are believed to have escaped with gunshot injuries," he added.
The Niger State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the fight against banditry and criminal networks in the state.
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