The Niger State Police Command has arrested 21 suspected thugs in separate raids across Minna and recovered dangerous weapons, including a locally made pistol.

The arrests were carried out by operatives attached to the Kpakungu and Chanchaga divisions during targeted operations at identified criminal hotspots.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said operatives of Kpakungu Division raided Angwan-Kanawa, Kpakungu, on August 24 at about 9:30pm, arresting six suspects identified as Sani Ibrahim, 18; Abdulkareem Hassan, 20; Salmanu Ishaq, 18; Nasiru Mukhtar, 18; Suleiman Yusuf, 18; and Abdulsalam Shuaibu.

The suspects were allegedly found with suspected cannabis, a cutlass, two scissors, a black bag and other illicit items.

The following night, three more suspects— Ibrahim Mohammed, 18; Mustapha Abdulkadir, 20; and Mustapha Mohammed, 19—were arrested at Marikichi while allegedly fighting.

Police said Mustapha Abdulkadir allegedly used a cutlass to inflict serious injuries on Ibrahim Mohammed’s right hand. The injured suspect was taken to a nearby hospital, while the three suspects were later charged to court.

In a separate operation on September 1, operatives of Chanchaga Division raided criminal hotspots around Angwan-Dakoko, Angwan-Kwakwa and Angwan-Gwari at about 12:30am.

The midnight operation led to the arrest of 12 suspected miscreants. Two of them were identified as Victor Solomon, 25, also known as Tumbeleke, who was allegedly found with a sharp dagger, and Osama Saidu Baushe, 17, who was allegedly found with a sharp sword.

The police command said all the suspects remained in custody for further investigation and prosecution.