3 Varsity Students Arrested for Cultism, Unlawful Possession of Firearms

Niger State Police Command has arrested three students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University,(IBBU), Lapai, Niger State suspected to be cult members.

They were arrested in their various residences, off campus last month based on credible intelligence of Police operatives attached to Lapai Division.

Those arrested are Tanko Augustine Solomon, 27yrs of Maikunkele, Idris Hamza, 25yrs, also of Maikunkele and Idris Hayatullahi 25yrs from Lokoja, Kogi State.

One of them, Tanko, has confessed that they belonged to the Neo-black movement (NBM).

“We belong to Neo- black movement and my own mission is to initiate more students from the school to fight for black racism movement.

“I have also been leading fight to other campuses and I even severed the left hand of my stepmother recently over a mere argument at Maikunkele area of Minna,” he revealed.

Exhibits recovered from Tanko Solomon included one locally made pistol with five cartridges, two axes, one red regalia with inscription of NBM, two packets of white candles and eight pieces of red candles, one packet of razor blade, two mosquito spray, two lighters and kolanuts.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, DSP, Wasiu Abiodun who confirmed the arrest said they would be charged to court soonest, adding that effort was equally on-going to arrest other members of the cult group.

In the same vein, three other suspected armed robbers are also in Police net in Minna with two firearms recovered from them.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested by the Police operatives attached to Tafa Division, Niger state while on routine patrol around Lolo Layout in Dakwa area last week after a distress call.

“On sighting the Police team, the robbery suspects took to their heels and they were pursued and trailed to a tea seller kiosk around Nato garage, Deidei Abuja, and the three suspects were arrested,”the PPRO confirmed.

He said the suspects arrested are
Suleman Yahaya 21yrs, Umar Suleman 25yrs and Khalifa Abdulrahman 18yrs all of Deidei area of Abuja.

DSP Abiodun said the suspects had during interrogation confessed to being members of a robbery syndicate terrorizing Dakwa, Deidei and its environs adding that they mentioned three others at large as Hassan, Lamar, and Bakano.

One double-barrel pump action gun,
One locally fabricated gun,
264 wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one cutlass, knife, and three scissors, One white t-shirt and a vigilante shirt were recovered when a search was conducted in the kiosk.

The suspects according to him will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for discreet investigation adding that effort is also ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.