Niger State Police Command has detained 31 people after a wave of violent confrontations across Minna communities killed two residents and injured several others between October 16 and 29, 2026.
The disturbances affected Albishir, Gurara, Gbeganu, Samande, Tunga, Angwan-Biri and Tudun-Fulani. Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun detailed the cases in a crime update released on Thursday.
Arrests and investigations
-
On October 16, police arrested 11 suspects after alleged hoodlums from Kafintela entered Samande, in the Tunga area, forced their way into shops and fought with local residents. The confrontation led to the death of a person from Kafintela.
Patrol officers, supported by personnel from the 12 Police Mobile Force, intervened and took the suspects into custody. Those arrested were between 15 and 25 years old. They were handed to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for additional inquiries before being brought before a court.
-
On October 18, authorities apprehended 13 people after youths from Angwan-Biri and Tudun-Fulani, both in Bosso, clashed.
Officers from the Bosso Division and vigilante personnel conducted raids in the affected neighbourhoods at about 1:30 a.m., recovering a range of weapons described as dangerous. The 13 suspects were subsequently charged in court.
-
In the most recent operation, on October 29, the Anti-Thuggery Unit arrested seven suspects over repeated violence in and around Albishir, Gurara and Gbeganu.
The detainees were Abdullahi Hassan, 20; Shafiu Yahaya, 25; Mohammed Abdullahi, 26; Idris Bashir, 24; Idris Mohammed, 22; Alhassan Isyaku, 26; and Aliyu Isah, 27.
Searches carried out during the operation produced a sword, cutlasses, a knife, suspected cannabis and a cable.
Albishir-Gurara dispute
Initial findings linked the latest violence to retaliation stemming from an argument at a party in Albishir in 2025. The earlier dispute was alleged to have caused the death of Sani Mohammed, who was from Gurara.
Police said young people from Gurara later attacked Alhassan Isyaku, a resident of Albishir, while he was carrying out furniture work in Gurara. Aliyu Isah was also reported to have suffered a severe cut to his right leg as well as injuries around his neck during the unrest.
The seven people arrested in the October 29 operation were arraigned on allegations of conspiracy, thuggery and inflicting grievous harm. Police said surveillance and high-visibility patrols would remain in place across the affected communities.
