Police | File Image
By Mohammed Usman
Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of seven cultists, who allegedly killed a student of the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Abdulwahab Jafar. It said the arrest followed a due process.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the arrest, pointed out that the crime led to the closure of the university months ago on the orders of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
He explained that before the parade of the seven suspects, the Police had screened a total of 19 persons, who were arrested in Lapai and other locations in the state based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Command.
His words: “The seven suspects were found to be members of the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM), a group allegedly involved in cultist activities, including initiation, robbery, and internet fraud.
“They were also found to be involved in criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, having in their possession dangerous weapons and suspected culpable homicide”.
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He gave the names of the suspects as; Idris Hamza (27yrs) of Maikunkele; Suleiman Damilare (27yrs) of Maikunkele; Abdulsemiu Bashir (23yrs) of Lapai; Bawa Aliyu (27yrs) of Suleja; Yakubu Musa – Pypa (24yrs) of Maikunkele; Samson Abbah – Small (28yrs) of Rafin-Yanshi; and Solomon Musa – Cabella (28yrs) of Maitumbi of the state.
The PPRO said the suspects confessed to being members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and had been involved in series of cult activities in the school, including initiation of new members.
“Their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who is suspected to be a member of rival group known as VIKINGS, upon his arrest in Lapai at a motor park on June 29, an on-the-spot search was carried out on him. He was found in possession of 16 SIM cards, POS machine and a sum of seventy-seven thousand Naira”, the PRO further said.
Recall that a cult clash on June 23, 2025, resulted in the temporary closure of the institution by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
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