A combined team of security personnel and local vigilantes in Niger State neutralised a suspected criminal and detained 11 others following an operation in Mashegu Local Government Area. The raid, which also yielded an AK-47 rifle alongside live ammunition, forms part of ongoing regional efforts to suppress armed banditry.
According to official reports from the Nigeria Police Force, the engagement took place at approximately 3 p.m. on November 8, 2026. Operatives drawn from local vigilante groups in Tashan-Hajiya intercepted the suspects during a routine patrol around the Kambarin-Daji area within the Ibbi community.
What happened during the confrontation?
The patrol team encountered armed elements, leading to an exchange of gunfire. During the skirmish, one of the suspected bandits, identified as Ketu Alhaji Boyi, sustained fatal injuries.
Following the shootout, security personnel secured the area and apprehended 11 additional suspects believed to have ties to the criminal network. Authorities recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle loaded with six rounds of live ammunition at the scene.
Where are the suspects currently held?
The arrested individuals and the recovered exhibits have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for comprehensive profiling and further inquiry. This intervention is part of broader security measures deployed across vulnerable districts in Niger State to restore public safety and dismantle criminal cells.