The Niger State Police Command has made an arrest in connection with the alleged vandalism of a communication mast in Minna. On September 20, 2026, police arrested Ogbonna David, 34, from Ogbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, and Chidiebere Okonkwo, 30, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The arrests were made at Tungan-Mallam Village via Paiko. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the arrests were a result of credible information received about a suspicious vehicle.
The police received information around 5:50 pm that a Mazda vehicle with registration number PHC 544 BP, suspected to have been stolen, was moving through Tungan-Mallam. Police personnel from Paiko Division mobilized to the area and intercepted the vehicle, arresting David and Okonkwo. Preliminary investigations revealed that four persons were in the vehicle, including a suspected soldier allegedly serving as an escort. The group was reportedly traced to the Brighter area of Minna, where they allegedly vandalized a communication mast.
The suspects allegedly stole solar batteries from the communication mast before attempting to escape towards Abuja. However, security personnel along the Lambata Road were alerted during the pursuit, causing the suspects to divert through the Paiko-Lapai Road. They were subsequently intercepted at Tungan-Mallam. The suspected soldier and another member of the group fled immediately after the interception, while David and Okonkwo were arrested.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of several items, including four solar batteries, two Android phones, a keypad phone, two gas cylinders, and three pairs of military camouflage. Other items recovered included a pair of military boots, a green beret, three passport photographs belonging to a military officer, N26,000 in cash, a knife, and a bag containing spanners. The recovered items suggest a sophisticated operation.
The two suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, for further investigation and prosecution. The police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, including the suspected soldier. The incident highlights the challenges faced by security agencies in preventing and investigating crimes.
In a separate incident, police also arrested 35-year-old Lami Bako of Mokwa. She was intercepted around Kainji Junction at about 3:30 am on September 20 with a crying two-month-old baby. The command's PRO disclosed that Bako admitted during interrogation that she was not the biological mother of the child and claimed that an unidentified woman had given the baby to her.
The case of Lami Bako and the two-month-old baby has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation. The police are working to identify the persons involved and reunite the baby with its mother. The incident underscores the complexities of social issues that require police intervention.
Key points
- Two men arrested for vandalizing communication mast in Niger State.
- Suspected soldier and another accomplice escape during interception.
- Police recover several items, including solar batteries and military camouflage, from suspects.
