The arrests were made at different locations, including Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Hall and in front of Government House, Minna, SaharaReporters reports.
The Niger State government under Governor Umaru Bago has arrested and remanded 37 individuals described as "corporate beggars" for obstructing official functions and engaging in public nuisance.
The arrests were made at different locations, including Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Hall and in front of Government House, Minna, SaharaReporters reports.
SaharaReporters gathered that 17 suspects were apprehended within the conference hall premises during an official event for alleged conspiracy, intimidation, extortion, phone snatching, and obstruction.
SaharaReporters had reported that Governor Bago had earlier expressed concerns over the growing number of individuals engaging in corporate begging in key locations such as the Minna airport, state secretariat, and mosques.
“Whenever they notice an airplane going towards the Minna airport or see a government car, they will quickly carry their bike and follow them to the airport or wherever they are going to beg for arms,” he said.
He had described such acts as an embarrassment to the state, particularly during visits by dignitaries. “This government has provided some of them with startup grants, employment, and political employment, but they still engage in corporate begging,” he added.
Bago had warned that areas like the airport, secretariat, and mosques should not be used for begging or political rallies. “If anyone is found doing so, they will be dealt with severely,” he cautioned.
The governor also revealed that security operatives had taken action against criminal activities at Minna airport, including cable theft and phone snatching. “You don’t have any business going to the airport if you are not travelling via air,” he stated.
Confirming the development to SaharaReporters on Thursday, Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, said, “On 8/3/2025 at about 3pm, seventeen suspects were arrested by security operatives within Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Int'l Conference hall, Minna for constituting public nuisance, conspiracy, intimidation, extortion, snatching of phones and obstructing the governor during official function within the premises of the hall.
“Some of them include; Bashir Moh’d, Nura Usman, Ibrahim Lawali, Yusuf Ibrahim, Abdullahi Usman, Hassan Ahmed, Aliyu Isah, Abdulhameed Tahir, Jibrin Adamu, Salisu Moh’d, Umar Usman, Adnan Adamu, Basiru Nuhu and others.
"Similarly, on the same date, at approximately 5pm, another twenty-one miscreants were apprehended in front of Government House, Minna and around Justice Legbo Kutigi hall for similar offences.”