The Niger State Police Command has arrested seven suspects in connection with cult-related activities at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai, following the killing of a student earlier this year.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the arrest followed investigations into the death of Abdulwahab Jafar, 23, of Paiko, who was attacked in his lodge on June 23, 2025.
Abiodun said the incident caused unrest in Lapai, prompting the deployment of tactical teams to restore peace. Joint investigations by the Tactical Support Team and the Force Intelligence Department led to the arrest of 19 persons across Lapai and other parts of the state, but the probe was later narrowed down to seven key suspects.
The suspects, according to the police, are Idris Hamza, 27, and Suleiman Damilare, 27, both of Maikunkele; Abdulsemiu Bashir, 23, of Lapai; Bawa Aliyu, 27, of Suleja; Yakubu Musa, 24, of Maikunkele; Samson Abbah, 28, of Rafin-Yanshi; and Solomon Musa, 28, of Maitumbi.
Abiodun said Hamza and Damilare were arrested on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, local black soaps, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle at the residence of one Abdullahi Ahmed, also known as “Catch-up.” The suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and admitted involvement in several cult-related activities, including initiation of new members.
Bashir, believed to be a member of a rival cult group known as VIKINGS, was arrested in Lapai on June 29. He was found with 16 SIM cards, a POS machine, and N77,000. Investigations revealed that the SIM cards came from stolen phones.
Other suspects – Bawa Aliyu, Yakubu Musa, Samson Abbah, and Solomon Musa – were linked to cult-related robberies and attacks on students. Abiodun said Samson Abbah acted as the admin of the group’s WhatsApp platform, initially named “Men That Matters,” later renamed “Football News,” where members coordinated their criminal activities.
“Investigation is ongoing, and efforts to identify the members of VIKINGS or NBM responsible for the killing of the deceased are intensified,” Abiodun said. He added that further updates would be communicated to the public.
In a separate operation, three other suspects were arrested for motorcycle theft. On September 9, Bashir Yahaya, 23, of Fadikpe, was intercepted with a sack containing motorcycle parts. He admitted stealing motorcycles from the Fadikpe area and selling the parts in Minna.
Earlier, on September 4, Lawali Bello, 27, of Iri Village, Rijau, was arrested for stealing a Bajaj motorcycle on September 2. He confessed and has been charged to court for prosecution.