Niger Police Capture Fake EFCC Operatives for Kidnapping, Extortion

Niger State police have arrested three individuals impersonating EFCC operatives for kidnapping and extortion activities targeting students in Lapai. Two accomplices were also detained. In a separate incident, two individuals were arrested for drug trafficking. Investigations are ongoing, with plans to prosecute those involved.

In an alarming incident in Niger State, police have apprehended three individuals posing as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged kidnapping and extortion of students in Lapai. Alongside them, two alleged informants were also taken into custody, raising concerns about collaborative criminal activities in the area.

A press release from the Niger State Police Command, shared by SP Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that the alleged incident occurred on May 13, 2025, around 8:00 p.m. The suspects reportedly raided an off-campus student lodge, where they abducted two students and fled the scene in a Toyota Corolla vehicle bearing the registration number ABJ 245 CU. One additional suspect, identified as Alfa James, managed to escape and remains at large.

During police questioning, the suspects admitted they were motivated by financial gain, describing their criminal operation as their source of livelihood. They revealed that they entered the students’ living quarters armed with tasers, which they pretended were firearms, to intimidate their victims. In total, the suspects allegedly stole five mobile phones from the students and attempted to demand a ransom of Ten million naira (N10,000,000), which was negotiated down to five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) before their arrest.

Law enforcement officials established that the fake EFCC identification cards used during the operation were manufactured in a shop located in Nyanya, Abuja, all bearing an identical fake ID number, “1069.” The two informants, Mohammed Hassan and Hamisu Adamu, both hailing from Angwan-Hausa in Lapai, were identified as key players in providing information about the students to Emmanuel Linus, who has a troublesome background as a dismissed soldier with prior criminal convictions.

The police confirmed that all five suspects are currently undergoing further investigations at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with plans to bring them before the court once inquiries are concluded.

In another noteworthy incident, police officers from the 61 PMF Kontagora arrested two men for allegedly engaging in drug-related crimes. Jimoh Adamu, 26, from Argungu Road in Kontagora, and Usman Abubakar, also 26, from Sabon-Rijiya village in Mashegu LGA, were caught on May 12, 2025, riding a Bajaj motorcycle along Babban-Rami/Rafin-Gora road.

A subsequent search of their possession yielded substantial amounts of illegal substances, including 327 wraps of cannabis, 38 packs of Emzol tablets, four sachets of tramadol, and cash amounting to ₦291,200. Jimoh Adamu confessed to being involved in drug dealing, while Usman Abubakar admitted to his role in aiding the illicit trade. SP Wasiu Abiodun assured that both suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and subsequent legal prosecution.

The arrests of the fake EFCC operatives and their accomplices reflect ongoing challenges with crime and drug-related issues in Niger State. The law enforcement’s decisive actions against these activities highlight their commitment to safeguarding student welfare and tackling drug trafficking. Investigations are ongoing, with further steps anticipated in court against the apprehended individuals.

Original Source: tribuneonlineng.com