The Niger State Police Command has arrested three sales girls for stealing goods worth #29M in an electronics phone store in Obasanjo Complex, Minna, Niger State.
The suspects involve in the theft of goods including phones and giving them to Nurudeen Musa, who sold them at giveaway prices are named Sarah Ogbonna, Ruth Emmanuel, and Mercy Ogbonna.
Sarah Ogbonna who was pinpointed as the main suspect in the matter was said to have stolen #29 Million worth of phones and used part of the proceeds to assuage certain family challenges, used some for a monetary contribution scheme, as well as renting an apartment for her boyfriend.
Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command who made the disclosure via a statement released on Monday stated that all suspects are undergoing thorough investigation.
“A report was received at the ‘A’ Division, Minna, from a shop owner at the Obasanjo Complex, Minna, who deals in phones. The report indicated that his salesgirl, one Sarah Ogbonna, 23 years old, of Okada Road, Minna, was suspected of having been stealing items/phones from his shop entrusted to her.
“He alleged that she had stolen items worth over N29m from the shop.
“Immediately the report was received, police operatives of the Division arrested the said Sarah, and during interrogation, she confessed to the allegation, stating that she had been working in the shop since 2023 and that she wouldn’t know if what she had taken so far could amount to N29m.
“But a sum of N700,000 was immediately recovered from her. Her statement led to the arrest of three other accomplices on 9th August, 2025, who are: Ruth Omor Emmanuel, 23 years of Tunga, Minna; Mercy Ogbonna, 30 years of Okada Road and Nurudeen Musa, 32 years of Obasanjo Complex, Minna.”
The statement noted that further investigation revealed that Sarah made multiple transfers of money to her elder sister, Mercy Ogbonna, who sorts family challenges on her behalf, such as payment of house rent, purchase of food items and other needs.
“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.
“It was also revealed that Sarah rented and furnished an apartment at the Sauka-Kauta area of Minna for her boyfriend, one Samuel Abiodun Bello, currently at large, and she also transferred some money to him.
“She equally claimed that she engaged in a weekly financial contribution of N150,000 with a yet-to-be-identified online group.
“However, all suspects are under investigation, and the following items were recovered from Sarah: two power generators, one smart TV, and one freezer. Others are four wigs of N500,000 each, one gas cylinder, shoes, canvas, bags, and clothes, and house furniture etc,” Abiodun stated.
