Police detain prime suspects in Niger over vigilante member’s death

The Police Command in Niger has detained a 23-year-old prime suspect, in connection with the killing of one Muhammed Amore.This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Wednesday in Minna.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Sunday at about 10:45 p.m. in Angwan-Maiturare, Fadikpe area of Minna, when the deceased, alongside some members of a vigilance group, attempted to arrest suspected miscreants in the area.

“In the course of the operation, one of the suspects stabbed the victim to death and fled the scene,” Abiodun said.

Following a follow-up investigation, police operatives attached to GRA Division arrested the prime suspect, on Tuesday, at about 10:00 p.m.

“He is said to be a chocolate seller at Kure Market, Minna, originally from Fadikpe in Katsina State.”

The command’s spokesperson said another suspect, 25, also from Katsina State and a shoe vendor using a wheelbarrow in the same market, had also been detained.

He said the first suspect in his confessional statement allegedly named the shoe vendor as an accomplice.

Abiodun said the suspects were smoking cannabis by the riverside when members of the vigilance group approached to arrest them.

He admitted that the deceased held onto him, and in an attempt to escape, he stabbed Amore in the upper left side of the chest with a shoemaker’s needle.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the shoe vendor fled to Abuja after the incident.

However, with the assistance of community members and relatives, he was apprehended.

According to him, both suspects are currently in custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.