Two killed as rival youth groups clash in Minna, six arrested

The Niger State Police Command has taken six suspects into custody following a violent clash between rival youth groups in Minna that claimed two lives after the recent Salah celebrations.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, announced the arrests on Thursday. He said the suspects were linked to thuggery in the Kpakungu area, involving youths from the Kutirko and Kulogbe communities.

The confrontation took place on May 28 and resulted in two deaths, prompting an intensive investigation by security forces.

The arrested individuals are: Nura Abubakar, 20, and Sufyanu Adamu, 20, both from Katsina State; Yunusa Ibrahim, 18, from Niger State; Yahuza Abdullahi, 30, from Sokoto State; Aliyu Abdulhamid, 20, from Bauchi State; and Musa Abubakar, 18, from Sokoto State.

Abiodun added that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further inquiry aimed at locating and arresting other participants in the deadly violence.

In a related incident, police detained an 18‑year‑old named Mahmud Usman of Gbeganu after a viral video surfaced in which he allegedly threatened residents of the Gurara, Albishir and Gbeganu communities with acts of thuggery.

The spokesperson said the suspect provided useful information about other group members, and that efforts to apprehend them are continuing.

Meanwhile, the command announced the arrest of 26 suspected hoodlums during a raid on criminal hideouts near Malam Auwal Ibrahim Market and surrounding areas in Kwamba, Suleja.

Items seized in the operation included 38 wraps of suspected cannabis, nine wraps of suspected marijuana, four machetes, an axe, a jackknife and charms.