The operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested a 23-year-old salesgirl, Sarah Ogbonna, for allegedly stealing items worth over N29 million from a phone shop in Minna, the state capital.
The command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Abiodun revealed that the shop owner, located at Obasanjo Complex in Minna, reported the matter to “A” Police Division on August 8.
Abiodun stated: “The report indicated that his salesgirl, one Sarah Ogbonna, 23 years of Okada road, Minna, was suspected to have been stealing items/phones from his shop entrusted to her.
“He alleged that she had stolen items worth over N29 million from the shop.”
Abiodun said police operatives immediately arrested Sarah, adding that the suspect, during interrogation, disclosed that she had been working in the shop since 2023, and she didn’t know if what she had taken so far could amount to N29 million.
He noted that Sarah’s statement led to the arrest of three accomplices on August 9.
They include 23-year-old Ruth Omor Emmanuel, 30-year-old Mercy Ogbonna, and 32-year-old Nurudeen Musa.
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The police spokesman added: “Further investigation revealed that Sarah made multiple transfers of money to her senior sister, Mercy Ogbonna, who sorts out family challenges on her behalf, such as payment of house rents, purchase of food items and other needs for the families.
“Ruth Emmanuel was also a salesgirl in the shop, and she allegedly participated in some of the acts before she left, while Nurudeen Musa usually collects expensive phones from Sarah and sells the phones at giveaway prices, rendering short payments for a long period of time,” Abiodun said.
The police further revealed that Sarah had rented and furnished an apartment at the Sauka-Kauta area of Minna for her boyfriend, one Samuel Abiodun Bello, who is currently at large.
“She also transferred some money to him and equally claimed that she engaged in a weekly financial contribution of one hundred and fifty thousand naira with a yet to be identified online group.”
Abiodun stated that all suspects are under investigation, adding that several items were recovered from Sarah.
Abiodun listed items recovered from the salesgirl to include two power generators, one smart TV, one freezer, four wigs of N500,000 each, one gas cylinder, shoes, canvas, bags, clothes, and house furniture, among others.
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