The Niger State Police Command has arrested a dismissed police officer, Haruna Haggai, over allegations of impersonating security personnel, snatching motorcycles and extorting residents in parts of Minna.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who said the suspect posed as both a police officer and an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out his activities.
According to the police, Haggai allegedly harassed and terrorised members of the public around the Sauka-Kahuta area and neighbouring communities, extorting money and dispossessing victims of their valuables.
Abiodun disclosed that the suspect was arrested on January 16, 2026, at his residence in Sauka-Kahuta, Minna, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department and the Special Tactical Squad, following credible intelligence and a complaint lodged by one of his victims.
“In a continued effort to curb urban crime, police operatives on January 16, 2026, at about 10pm, arrested one Haruna Haggai, aged 30, of Sauka-Kahuta, Minna, at his residence based on technical intelligence,” the statement said.
The police explained that the arrest followed a complaint that on January 14, 2026, the suspect intercepted a motorcyclist riding along Kpakungu Road. He allegedly impersonated a police officer, intimidated the rider, forcefully seized the motorcycle and later extorted N150,000 from him after parading him around town and accusing him of fraud.
Abiodun further revealed that Haggai had been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force since 2017/2018 and had previously been arrested in October 2025 for a similar offence. In that incident, he was accused of impersonating an EFCC official, forcefully collecting a motorcycle along Shiroro Road and extorting N400,000 from a victim.
Although the suspect was charged to court at the time, he was reportedly released following an out-of-court settlement under an alternative dispute resolution arrangement.
The police said complaints continued to trail the suspect, with residents accusing him of persistent harassment, intimidation and robbery in the Sauka-Kahuta area.
“The suspect is currently in custody undergoing investigation. The motorcycle has been recovered, and he will be charged to court for prosecution, with records of his previous offences,” the statement added.