Police Re-Arrest Escaped Suleja Inmate, Nab Two Robbery Suspects In Niger

The Niger State Police Command has re-arrested one of the inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, after the prison walls collapsed during a heavy downpour in April 2024, leading to the escape of 118 inmates.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, October 23, 2025, identifying the suspect as Jemilu Ibrahim, who had been serving a jail term prior to the jailbreak.

According to Abiodun, Ibrahim was apprehended by operatives of the “B” Division, Suleja, during a routine patrol along the Suleja–Madalla road on October 15.

“Earlier on October 15, at about 8:30 p.m., police surveillance operatives attached to ‘B’ Division, Suleja, intercepted one Jemilu Ibrahim of Timber-shed area, Kwata Madalla, with a bag containing illicit substances, ATM cards, and mobile phones,” the statement read.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Ibrahim had previously been prosecuted for armed robbery and was among those who escaped from the Suleja Correctional Centre following the wall collapse. He has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for onward return to the correctional facility.

In a separate operation on October 19, police also arrested two robbery suspects following a mob attack incident near Kantoma Bridge, Suleja.

Abiodun explained that officers on patrol rescued Lukman Umar, aged 23, after he was nearly lynched by a crowd for attempting to flee a food stall without payment. Upon interrogation, Umar confessed to being part of a robbery syndicate involved in stealing vehicles, motorcycles, and phones in the area.

He also named other members of the gang, leading to the arrest of Saifullahi Ibrahim (34) at his residence in Dakwa, where police recovered three locally made revolver guns and two knives.

Both suspects allegedly posed as members of a local vigilante group to conceal their criminal operations.

Abiodun added that investigations are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the gang, after which the suspects will be charged to court.