Three salesgirls have been caught by the police for allegedly stealing N29 million worth of goods from an electronics phone in Obasanjo Complex, Minna, Niger State. 

The suspects, Sarah Ogbonna, Ruth Emmanuel, and Mercy Ogbonna, were accused of stealing the phones and giving them to Nurudeen Musa, who sold them for free. 

The main suspect, Sarah Ogbonna, was accused of using some of the money to pay for her boyfriend's apartment and a monetary contribution scheme, as well as using the money to solve her family's problems.

In a statement released on Monday, Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, acknowledged the occurrence and stated that all of the accused were being investigated.

“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.”

According to the statement, more research showed that Sarah transferred money to her older sister Mercy Ogbonna on several occasions. Mercy handles family matters on her behalf, including paying the rent on the residence, buying food, and meeting other necessities.

Source