In a major breakthrough against criminal activity, the Katsina State Police Command announced the arrest of 168 suspects linked to 105 different criminal cases during the month of September.
Spokesman for the Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, made the revelation at a press briefing held on Friday in Katsina, highlighting the force’s recent achievements.
Among those apprehended were 12 armed robbery suspects, five individuals accused of murder or culpable homicide, and over 20 alleged rapists. The roundup also included nine suspected vandals, two alleged gunrunners, three suspects held for illegal firearm possession, and 14 reportedly involved in drug trafficking.
According to Aliyu, the Command also succeeded in thwarting several bandit operations, neutralising five suspected bandits and rescuing more than 80 kidnapped victims within the review period.
Significant arms and contraband seizures were made, including 1,298 rounds of live ammunition, four cartridges, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two AK-47 rifles, a locally made firearm, and five vehicles suspected to be stolen. Police also recovered five motorcycles, 1,096 tramadol tablets, 42 Exol tablets, several wraps of what is believed to be cannabis, and a substantial amount of vandalised electrical cables.
Quoting the Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, DSP Aliyu extended the Command’s gratitude to residents of the state for their continued support:
> “We sincerely express our deepest appreciation for their support, collaboration and assistance in our crime-fighting efforts to maintain law and order in the state.”
He also called for greater public cooperation going forward:
> “We solicit for more support and cooperation from the members of the public to enable us to further improve on these successes.”
The Command encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to nearby police stations or through the following emergency numbers: 08156977777, 09022209690, and 07072722539.
