Police arrest two over mast vandalism in Niger, suspected soldier escapes

The Niger State Police Command has arrested two men over the alleged vandalism of a communication mast in Minna, while a suspected soldier and another accomplice reportedly escaped during their interception along the Paiko-Lapai Road.

The suspects, Ogbonna David, 34, from Ogbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, and Chidiebere Okonkwo, 30, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were arrested on September 20, 2026, at Tungan-Mallam Village via Paiko.

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

According to him, police received credible 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 mobilised to the area and intercepted the vehicle, arresting David and Okonkwo.

Abiodun said preliminary investigations showed 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 vandalised a communication mast and stole solar batteries before attempting to escape towards Abuja.

The police revealed that security personnel along the Lambata Road were alerted during the pursuit, but the suspects allegedly turned back after sighting the security men and diverted through the Paiko-Lapai Road.

They were subsequently intercepted at Tungan-Mallam, according to the command.

Abiodun stated that 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 allegedly led to the recovery of 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 two suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, for further investigation and prosecution, while the police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

In a separate incident, police also arrested 35-year-old Lami Bako of Mokwa after 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 the woman 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.

Police further said the case had been transferred to the SCID for further investigation, including efforts to identify the persons involved and reunite the baby with its mother.

Police arrest two over mast vandalism in Niger, suspected soldier escapes