Police in Minna, Niger State, have arrested a 30-year-old dismissed police officer, Haruna Haggai, over allegations of impersonating security personnel, forcefully snatching motorcycles, and extorting residents.

Haggai was apprehended at about 10 p.m. on January 16, 2026, at his residence in Sauka-Kahuta, Minna, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department and the Special Tactical Squad, following intelligence reports and a complaint from one of his victims.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the suspect allegedly posed as a serving police officer on January 14, 2026, along Kpakungu Road, where he intercepted a Jincheng motorcycle rider, intimidated him, and forcefully seized the motorcycle.

Investigations revealed that Haggai later conveyed the victim to different locations within the town and extorted ₦150,000 from him around the Garatu area after falsely accusing him of fraud, before abandoning him and escaping with the motorcycle.

“The suspect was arrested following a direct complaint from a victim who was riding a Jincheng motorcycle along Kpakungu Road when Haggai intercepted him, impersonated a police officer, intimidated him, and forcefully collected the motorcycle,” the statement read.

“He later moved the victim around the town, extorted the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira from him around Garatu, labelled him a fraudster, abandoned him, and made away with the motorcycle.”

Abiodun disclosed that the suspect had a prior record, noting that in October 2025, Haggai was arrested for a similar offence involving the impersonation of an EFCC official and the extortion of ₦400,000. He was, however, released at the time following an out-of-court settlement.

The police spokesperson further revealed that the suspect had been reported for repeatedly harassing and terrorising residents of the Sauka-Kahuta area and its environs, extorting money and robbing victims of their valuables.

“The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing investigation. The motorcycle has been recovered, and he will be charged to court for prosecution, with due consideration given to records of his previous offences,” the statement added.