The Niger State Police Command has successfully rescued and arrested a suspected motorcycle thief who was nearly lynched by an angry mob at the General Hospital area in Minna, the state capital.

According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the incident occurred on May 20, 2025, at approximately 5:30 pm when a distress call alerted authorities to the situation. A police patrol team from 'A' Division Minna promptly responded, rescuing 35-year-old Basiru Abubakar, a Sokoto State native, from the hands of irate members of the public.

Investigations revealed that Abubakar belongs to a syndicate that specializes in motorcycle theft. The suspect, along with an accomplice who remains at large, had employed a cunning strategy to steal motorcycles from unsuspecting riders.

"Both of them boarded a motorcycle from Kure Market to a location. They stopped the rider along the way on the pretense that one of them wanted to see somebody," SP Abiodun explained. "Basiru and the rider were waiting when the suspect gave the motorcyclist a candy, which he collected and licked. He became dizzy, weak, and the suspect took the motorcycle away."

The theft might have been successful if not for an alert witness who observed the suspicious activity. The witness followed the suspect to the General Hospital area before raising an alarm, which attracted the attention of local residents who attempted to administer jungle justice before police intervention.

SP Abiodun confirmed that the case is currently under investigation, and the suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.

This arrest highlights the ongoing challenge of motorcycle theft in Niger State and the dangerous trend of mob justice. The police continue to urge citizens to report criminal activities to appropriate authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.