Niger State Police Command operatives attached to the Mokwa Division have arrested five suspects for allegedly stealing livestock and attempting to transport them inside a saloon car to Bida for sale.
The suspects were intercepted on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at approximately 10:30 AM along the Mokwa bypass road during a routine patrol, according to a statement on Wednesday by SP Wasiu Abiodun, Police PRO, Niger State Command.
According to Abiodun, the patrol team spotted a Toyota Corolla vehicle with registration number KNT 23 HP being loaded with goats. Upon closer observation, the security team grew suspicious of the operation and confronted the handlers.
During on-site interrogation, the individuals failed to provide a satisfactory account of ownership for both themselves and the livestock. They were immediately taken into police custody.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the goats had been stolen from various locations within Mokwa town earlier that morning. The suspects confessed to intending to convey the animals to Bida to sell them off.
The Niger State Police Command identified the arrested suspects as: Ramatu Yahaya, 24, Isyaku Yahaya, 15, Danjuma Danladi, 31, Mohammad Adamu, 30, and Amina Usman, 30. The first four are from Bida while the fifth is from Mokwa.
Following the arrest, several local livestock owners surfaced at the station to identify their property. The animals have since been released to their rightful owners.
The suspects remain under further investigation as police seek to arrest other fleeing collaborators. Authorities confirmed the five individuals will be charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation.