7 arrested over attack, killings at Niger varsity
The police in Niger State have arrested seven suspects for alleged conspiracy and attack on IBB University students at the off-campus hostel in Lapai that led to the closure of the university in June this year. The suspects are Idris Hamza (27) and Suleiman Damilare (27) of Maikunkele, as well as Abdulsemiu Bashir (23) of […]
The police in Niger State have arrested seven suspects for alleged conspiracy and attack on IBB University students at the off-campus hostel in Lapai that led to the closure of the university in June this year.
The suspects are Idris Hamza (27) and Suleiman Damilare (27) of Maikunkele, as well as Abdulsemiu Bashir (23) of Lapai, Bawa Aliyu (27) of Suleja, Yakubu Musa-Pypa (24) of Maikunkele, Samson Abbah – Small (28), R/Yanshi and Solomon Musa-Cabella (28) of Maitumbi.
It would be recalled that on June 23, 2025, at about 3am, there was a report of an attack on students that led to the death of a 23-year-old student, Abdulwahab Jafar, at his lodge in the school.
The incident led to protests by students that turned into a crisis in the Lapai community.
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The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, said following the unfortunate incident, police tactical teams were deployed to the town, through which normalcy was restored.
“However, in a follow-up investigative effort of the Command, a total of 19 persons were arrested in Lapai and other locations in the state based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Police Command. The investigation was narrowed down to seven suspects for criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, possession of dangerous weapons and suspected culpable homicide,” Abiodun explained.
Abiodun further explained that Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle at a residence belonging to one Abdullahi Ahmed aka catch-up.
He said the suspects confessed to being members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to having carried out a series of cultist activities in IBBUL.
The police spokesperson said their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who was suspected of being a member of a rival group known as Vikings.