"We heard he received a huge amount of money" - Four suspected armed robbers arrested for m8rder of photographer in Minna

The Niger State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers for the m8rder of a 33-year-old photographer, Zaccheaus Salawudeen, in Minna.

Salawudeen, who was a Special Assistant on Communication in the Office of the Political Adviser to the Niger State Governor, was robbed and stabbed to d3ath at his residence in February 2024.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Tuesday, November 26.

The PPRO said the suspects were arrested by the Crack Squad Unit of the Command at the River Basin area of Minna on October 26.

During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they got information that late Zaccheaus received a contribution of a huge amount of money, hence they mobilised to his residence at midnight, attacked and robbed him of N95,000.

However, they felt disappointed and believed that the deceased lied to them about the amount, and one of them known as Danladi, presently at large, stabbed the deceased with a knife in the stomach.

“In furtherance of the commitment of the Police Command in the State to ensure that suspects of crime are apprehended and prosecuted accordingly. It could be recalled that on February 27th, 2024, an unfortunate incident of culpable homicide was reported at Bosso Div in which one Zaccheaus Salawudeen 33yrs of Tudun-Fulani, Minna was attacked in his residence, robbed and stabbed to d3ath,” the statement read.

"Since then, the Police Command has been on the trail of the assailants and after a meticulous investigation; four suspects were apprehended on October 26th by the Crack Squad Unit of the Command at River Basin area of Minna and they are; Mustapha Ibrahim, Sniper-19yrs, Shamson Rabiu-21yrs, Bashar Aliyu, Gizo-20yrs and Abdullahi Umar-19yrs

"During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime as they narrated that on the same date, they were discussing within the area at Rafin-Yashin and they heard that the late Zaccheaus received a contribution of a huge amount of money, hence they mobilised to his residence at midnight, attacked and robbed him of #95,000 but they felt disappointed and believed that the deceased lied to them about the amount, and one of them known as Danladi, presently at large stabbed the deceased with a knife in the stomach.

"Investigation revealed further that on August 9th, 2024, the same syndicate attacked another victim's residence at Rafin-Yashin who initially refused to open the door for them, but they shouted that he wanted to be killed like the photographer, in the process, a neighbour identified them and he was inflicted with a serious injury of matchete cut by robbers on the jaw, but he survived.

“However, two knives, five wraps of suspected cannabis, alcohol, matches and abandoned slippers were recovered during the arrest. The investigation is in progress, as effort is being intensified to arrest the said Danladi. Suspects have also been arraigned in court for prosecution.”