Seven suspects are in the net of police in Niger State for their alleged roles in the attack on IBB University students at an off-campus hotel in Lapai that culminated in the closure of the university in June this year.
A statement issued by the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said, “the suspects are Idris Hamza (27) and Suleiman Damilare (27) of Maikunkele, as well as Abdulsemiu Bashir (23) of Lapai, Bawa Aliyu (27) of Suleja, Yakubu Musa-Pypa (24) of Maikunkele, Samson Abbah – Small (28), R/Yanshi and Solomon Musa-Cabella (28) of Maitumbi.”
On June 23, 2025, at about 3am, a 23-year-old student, Abdulwahab Jafar, died at his lodge in the school following an attack on the students, which also led to protests by students that turned into a crisis in the Lapai community.
During the unfortunate incident, according to the statement, police tactical teams were deployed to the town that brought the restoration of normalcy.
He explained that a follow-up investigative effort of the Command led to the arrest of 19 persons in Lapai and other locations in the state based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Police Command.
The statement stated that the investigation was narrowed down to seven suspects for criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, possession of dangerous weapons and suspected culpable homicide.
According to Abiodun, Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle at a residence belonging to one Abdullahi Ahmed, aka catch-up.
The police spokesman said that the suspects confessed to being members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to having carried out a series of cultist activities in IBBUL.
He explained their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who was suspected of being a member of a rival group, known as Vikings.
