From John Adams, Minna
Residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, are seeking safety and government intervention as suspected thugs continue to terrorise the city, attacking and killing innocent citizens without provocation.
The latest victims are a bank driver and a TikTok content creator, both targeted in Minna.
On Sunday, April 20, around 9:30 pm, a driver with a first-generation bank, identified as Mohammed, was accosted by thugs in Fadipe, a suburb of Minna. The assailants followed him to his home, stole his valuables, including money, and stabbed him to death.
Also attacked was Nura Yerima, a TikTok commentator in Minna. Thugs assaulted Yerima at his residence, beating him into a coma. He was rushed to a hospital and is currently receiving treatment. The attack is said to be politically motivated, linked to Yerima’s recent call for Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to replace his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, with a female deputy for the 2027 elections.
These attacks occurred barely one week after the Niger State House of Assembly met with security agency heads for three hours to address the thuggery crisis. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, told journalists, “As representatives of the people, we cannot fold our hands and watch some criminal elements disguising themselves as thugs making lives unbearable for the people.”
He warned that the assembly would consider legislation making thuggery a capital offence if the menace continues, stating, “There cannot be any meaningful development in an unsecured environment, adding that the state must be safe for intending investors coming to do business with the government.”
This year, over 30 people, including a retired permanent secretary, have been killed in Minna by criminals posing as thugs. Residents, fearing for their lives, have changed their lifestyles to avoid attacks, as security measures have proven ineffective. Recently, a 10-year-old girl was found in an abandoned building with her hands and mouth tied, raising concerns about possible ritual activities in the city.
The ongoing violence has drawn sharp criticism. Yahya Mohammed, a former Director of Media for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial campaign in 2023, posted on Facebook on Monday, 21 April 2025, calling the situation “very worrisome”.
He urged Governor Bago to act, saying, “These incidents have the capacity to dwarf whatever you are doing in any sector. As it is said, bad news travels faster than good news.”
He added, “What all this means is that there is an urgent need for a collaborative effort with security agencies in the state. Vigilantes and the police, especially, should be given adequate logistic support to increase patrols day and night in Minna.”