The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected robbers allegedly found in possession of three toy pistols and 16 ATM cards in Minna.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He said the suspects were arrested at about 11:00 p.m. on July 14 by a surveillance patrol team attached to the Tudun-Wada Division.
According to him, the suspects were intercepted in a tricycle near the M.I. Wushishi Estate junction, where a search led to the recovery of three plastic pistols and 16 expired ATM cards belonging to different banks.
Abiodun said the suspects claimed during interrogation that they found the ATM cards while scavenging in Lagos State.
He, however, noted that the suspects were strongly believed to have been using the toy pistols to rob unsuspecting residents around the M.I. Wushishi Estate area. He added that investigations were ongoing.
In a separate operation, police operatives attached to the Tudun-Wada Division arrested five suspected thugs during a sting operation in the Sabon-Titi area of Tunga, Minna.
Items recovered from the suspects included a bag containing suspected cannabis, two knives, three cutlasses and two other dangerous weapons.
The suspects reportedly claimed that the weapons were intended for a Maulud celebration and admitted they were involved in frequent clashes with youths from the Tunga-Maje area.
Abiodun said all the suspects remained in police custody while investigations continued.
