The Niger State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects during separate operations targeting criminal hideouts and alleged thuggery across the state.

The command said 139 suspects were arrested during raids in Suleja and neighbouring areas following an alleged violent rally and unlawful assembly in the town.

According to the police, the operation was launched after reports that some miscreants were armed with dangerous weapons and had allegedly attacked and robbed members of the public during the rally.

The command’s Vigilance, Community Relations and Intelligence Unit subsequently conducted sting operations at identified blackspots in Madalla, Kwata, Bakin-Ruwa, Dikko, Kaduna Road, Sabon-Wuse, Gwazunu and Chaza.

The police said 64 of the 139 suspects were found with large quantities of suspected cannabis, dangerous weapons, scissors, knives, cutlasses and four live cartridges. The suspects were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Suleja and remanded in a correctional centre.

In a separate operation in Minna, eight suspected thugs were arrested during raids on criminal hideouts in the Tudun-Wada and Talakawa areas of Tunga.

Police said various items, including cutlasses, clubs, daggers, a shovel, lighters and suspected cannabis, were recovered.

Four other suspects were also arrested during a raid on suspected criminal hideouts in Maitumbi, where police said illicit substances and shisha pots were recovered.

The command said investigations were ongoing and that suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.