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By Correspondent in Minna.
The Niger State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cultists in connection with the killing of a student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, identified as Abdulwahab Jafar.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the command,SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement in Minna on Tuesday,noting that the arrests followed joint investigations by the Tactical Support Team (TST) and the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (FID STS).
According to him, 19 persons were initially apprehended in Lapai and other parts of the state based on intelligence reports, but investigations narrowed them down to seven suspects linked to Jafar’s murder.
“The 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,” Abiodun said.
He added that the suspects were involved in criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, unlawful possession of dangerous weapons, and culpable homicide.
The statement listed the suspects as:
Idris Hamza (27), Maikunkele,Suleiman Damilare (27), Maikunkele,Abdulsemiu Bashir (23), Lapai,Bawa Aliyu (27), Suleja,Yakubu Musa, aka Pypa (24), Maikunkele,Samson Abbah, aka Small (28), Rafin-Yanshi and Solomon Musa, aka Cabella (28), Maitumbi.
The PPRO further revealed that the suspects confessed to being NBM members and had actively participated in cult-related activities at the institution, including the initiation of new members.
He said their confessions also led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, alleged to belong to a rival cult group, the Vikings.
He was apprehended at Lapai motor park on June 29, with 16 SIM cards, a POS machine, and ₦77,000 found in his possession.
Our correspondent recalls that that a violent cult clash on June 23, 2025, led to the temporary closure of IBBU by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
