(DDM) – Authorities in Niger State have announced the arrest of two suspects linked to a planned assassination, in what police described as a premeditated and financially motivated crime.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the suspects, identified as Muhammad Mohammed, 40, and Mohammed Usman, 35, were intercepted in the early hours of August 23, 2025, during a joint police and vigilante operation in Beji, Maikunkele area of Bosso Local Government Area.
According to police reports, the duo were allegedly en route to Butu village to collect ₦100,000, which had been agreed upon as payment for the planned killing.
Police statement and confession of suspects
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Minna, stating that the suspects confessed during interrogation to being contracted by one Dogo, a resident of Beji.
The statement explained that the intended target was a man who had recently married Dogo’s former wife, an act believed to have triggered the assassination plot.
Abiodun stated, “During interrogation both suspects confessed that they were hired by one Dogo of Beji to assassinate a person around railway crossing area in the area, and they were on their way to collect the service charge of ₦100,000 from Dogo before being arrested.”
The suspects also admitted that they had earlier received ₦13,000 from Dogo as a transportation allowance before setting out to collect the balance prior to carrying out the attack.
Items recovered and transfer to SCID
Police disclosed that a locally made pistol and live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, which were believed to be intended for use in the assassination attempt.
Following their arrest, the suspects were initially detained at Maikunkele Police Division for preliminary investigation before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation and prosecution.
Motive behind the crime
Preliminary findings by investigators suggest that the primary motive behind the planned killing was personal revenge.
The alleged mastermind, Dogo, reportedly plotted the attack after growing bitter that his former spouse had remarried, leading him to allegedly offer a significant sum of money to have the new husband killed.
Police have since intensified efforts to apprehend Dogo, who remains at large, but is believed to be hiding within Niger State or neighbouring states.
Broader context – rise in contract killings
Cases of contract killings have continued to generate public concern in Nigeria. Experts note that financial inducement and personal vendettas are the leading drivers behind these crimes, often carried out by young men recruited from rural communities.
Reports indicate that economic hardship, coupled with the proliferation of small arms, has made targeted killings easier to execute, particularly in semi-urban and rural settlements where security patrols are minimal.
Community leaders in Bosso LGA expressed shock at the arrests, describing the incident as a disturbing sign of the moral and social decline affecting local communities.
Security concerns in Niger State
Niger State has in recent years grappled with growing insecurity, including cases of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and politically motivated attacks.
Local analysts believe that incidents like this underline the urgent need for stronger community policing and intelligence-gathering measures to prevent future occurrences.
SP Abiodun reiterated that the police remain committed to ensuring that all suspects, including the alleged mastermind, are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others contemplating similar crimes.
Public reaction and next steps
The arrests have sparked a mix of relief and anxiety among residents of Bosso and neighbouring LGAs.
Many residents have called for swift prosecution of the suspects, while others have urged security agencies to extend their crackdown to local gun manufacturers and networks that facilitate such crimes.
Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that further investigations would focus on uncovering whether the suspects have been involved in previous criminal activities or belong to a wider network of hired killers.
Ongoing manhunt
Efforts to track and arrest Dogo, the alleged mastermind, are ongoing, with police urging members of the public to provide any useful information that may lead to his capture.
The case is expected to proceed to court once investigations are concluded.
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