Salesgirl allegedly steals phones, items worth N29m from employer's shop, rents and furnishes apartment for her boyfriend in Minna

 

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old salesgirl for allegedly stealing phones and other items worth over N29m from her employer's shop in Minna. 

 

 

The spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August 18, 2025 said the suspect, Sarah Ogbonna, also rented and furnished an apartment for her boyfriend, Samuel Abiodun Bello, with money stolen from her employer. 

 

 

According to the PPRO, the suspect made multiple transfers of money to her elder sister, Mercy Ogbonna who sorts family challenges on her behalf.

 

 

Further investigation led to the arrest of three other suspects, including a former salesgirl, Ruth Omor Emmanuel, who allegedly participated in some of the acts before she quit. 

 

 

Abiodun revealed that one of the suspects, Nurudeen Musa, collected expensive phones from Sarah and sold them at giveaway prices. 

 

 

The sum of 700,000, two power generators, one smart TV, one freezer, four wigs worth N500,000 each, clothes, house furniture and other items were recovered from Sarah. 

 

 

“In continuation of the Police Command's efforts in fighting crime and criminality, the following recent incidents occurred; on 8th August, 2025 at about 12pm, a report was received at 'A' Div Minna from a shop owner at Obasanjo Complex, Minna who deals in phone business,” the statement read.

 

"The report indicated that his salesgirl; one Sarah Ogbonna 23yrs 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 twenty-nine million naira from the shop.

 

"Immediately the report was received, Police operatives of the Div arrested the said Sarah, and during interrogation, she confessed to the allegation, stating that she had been working in the shop since 2023 and she wouldn't know if what she had taken so far could amount to twenty-nine million naira, but a sum of seven hundred thousand naira was immediately recovered from her. 

 

"Her statement led to the arrest of three other accomplices on 9th August, 2025 who are; Ruth Omor Emmanuel 23yrs of Tunga, Minna, Mercy Ogbonna 30yrs of Okada road and Nurudeen Musa 32yrs of Obasanjo Complex, Minna. 

 

"Further investigation revealed that Sarah made multiple transfers of money to her senior sister Mercy Ogbonna who sorts 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.

 

"It was also revealed that Sarah rented and furnished an apartment at 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 one hundred and fifty thousand naira 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, one Freezer, four wigs of five hundred thousand naira each, one gas cylinder, shoes, canvas, bags, and clothes, house furniture etc.”