The Niger State Police Command has arrested a suspected killer of a vigilante member who had been on the run since 2024.

The suspect, Sudais Zakari of Angwan-Roka, Minna, was arrested alongside Danjuma Idris of Maitumbi on suspicion of robbery.

Zakari was said to have fled after allegedly killing Ibrahim Yahaya, also known as Danladi Baushe, a member of a vigilante group in Maitumbi, in April 2024.

He was also alleged to have participated in several armed robbery incidents in the Maitumbi area in 2025.

The Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

“On 7th February 2026 at 10.30pm, police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division, led by the DPO with vigilante members, stormed some criminal hideouts around Maitumbi area. In the process, one Sudais Zakari of Angwan-Roka and Danjuma Idris of Maitumbi were arrested.

“Sudais has been on the run for various crimes, including the culpable homicide of one Ibrahim Yahaya a.k.a Danladi Baushe, a member of a vigilante group in Maitumbi.

“The incident occurred sometime in April 2024. Preliminary investigation further revealed that the said Sudais had participated in several armed robbery incidents in Maitumbi area within 2025.

“Danjuma Idris was arrested with breaking tools such as bolt cutter, matchet, screwdriver, plier, bunch of keys, face cap and a bag suspected to be stolen,” he said.

Similarly, Abiodun added that “on 8th February 2026 at about 3am, one Aji Gana was also intercepted and arrested around Maitumbi Roundabout by Operation Flush patrol team, and when searched, the following items were found in his possession: a cutlass, one pitcher, a bunch of keys, a plier, screwdriver, and two handsets.

“All suspects are under further investigation and they will be charged to court after the investigation,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Command has sealed Signatious Hotel in the Ajao Estate area of the state following the mysterious death of Mattias Airenekhueme at the facility, after PUNCH Metro reported the incident.

Mattias was said to have attended a pool party at the hotel on Saturday, January 31, where he had gone to sell tickets and earn money before the tragedy occurred.

His father, Henry Airenekhueme, told our correspondent that he received a distress call that day from one of Mattias’ elder brothers informing him that the young man had been rushed to the Isolo General Hospital and that a family member was urgently needed.

According to him, he arrived at the hospital only to find his son’s lifeless body still inside the vehicle that brought him to the facility.

Airenekhueme disclosed that three persons — the hotel manager and two of Mattias’ friends — were initially arrested in connection with the incident.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, a police source, who did not want to be identified because he was not permitted to speak with the media on the matter, confirmed that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, had sealed the hotel as part of ongoing investigations.

The source added that the organiser of the pool party had also been arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.

“The police have sealed the hotel pending an ongoing investigation into the incident. The organiser of the pool party is also currently in police custody,” the source said.

Airenekhueme further revealed that an autopsy was being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

“An autopsy is being carried out by the police. We are waiting for the outcome,” he said.

Recounting what he was told about the incident, Airenekhueme said one of Mattias’ friends, who took him to the hospital, claimed they had been sitting together with a lady before he briefly stepped away.

“He said when he returned about five minutes later and tried calling my son, there was no response. The lady told him my son had left the spot, but his phone was still there charging. While searching for him, they later found his body in the swimming pool,” the father narrated.

However, Airenekhueme expressed doubts about the drowning narrative, citing what he described as unusual physical signs on his son’s body.

“If he truly drowned, why was his stomach flat instead of swollen? And why was there foam coming out of his mouth and nose?” he queried.

He said the family immediately reported the case to the police, who visited the hospital, documented the incident, and deposited the body in the morgue.

Also, he alleged that the family later received a call from a man who claimed to be a hotel staff member and asked what it would take to “settle” the matter.

He further claimed that the pool party continued that same night despite the discovery of his son’s body.

Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful, as calls to her line were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over safety standards at hotels and recreational centres, amid recurring cases of drownings and other fatalities at such facilities across the state.

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A Lagos-based content creator and thrift vendor, popularly known as Fems Thrift, has alleged that she and a friend were raped after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in the Ajao Estate area of the state.

In a video posted on her TikTok page and seen by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, the survivor said the incident occurred on Friday, February 8, after she was contacted on Instagram by a man who claimed he had relocated from the United Kingdom to launch an international fashion brand in Nigeria.

According to her, the suspect offered her N140,000 for the modelling job and requested that she leverage her social media influence to promote the brand.

She said she was first contacted on February 1 and agreed to the job after being told that a make-up artist and other crew members would be present at the shoot.

“My friend was already with me, so she accompanied me for safety,” she said.

Fems narrated that she arrived at the apartment around 11am on February 8 with her friend, but found the space largely empty.

She alleged that the suspect claimed the location was a content creation space and that the make-up artist had stepped out briefly. He reportedly asked her to take a shower, citing excessive oil on her skin, and gave her a robe to change into ahead of the shoot.

According to her, after she had taken her bath and changed, the man entered the room with a key, claiming he wanted to demonstrate how to lock the door before the videographer and other crew members arrived.

“He locked the door, stood in a corner, and I became scared,” she said.

She further alleged that the man then brandished a knife, ordered both women to undress, tied their hands with socks and threatened to stab them if they resisted.

“He sexually assaulted us multiple times without protection,” she alleged.

Fems also claimed that before releasing them, the suspect seized their phones, compelled them to unlock private folders and transferred intimate photos and videos to himself via AirDrop.

She said the man threatened to publish the materials online if they reported the incident or spoke publicly about it.

“He threatened me with my internet presence, saying if I spoke up, he would release my private videos now and in the future,” she added.

The victims reportedly left the apartment between 2pm and 3pm on the same day.

The video has since generated widespread outrage on social media, with many users calling for the suspect’s immediate arrest and urging the police to commence an investigation. Some users also circulated photographs purported to be of the alleged perpetrator.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said no formal complaint had been filed as of February 11, 2026.

“Efforts are ongoing to reach out to the lady to commence an investigation,” she said.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of young women responding to online job offers and the risks associated with unverified opportunities within the gig and influencer economy.