The Katsina State Police Command arrested 188 suspects linked to criminal activities and rescued 12 kidnapped victims in March.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, who disclosed this during a briefing to newsmen on Monday in Katsina, said the success was part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat crime.
Sadiq-Aliyu outlined significant breakthroughs in curbing kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, and arms trafficking throughout the state, identifying these as key areas of success.
He credited intelligence-led operations, strengthened inter-agency collaborations, and sustained patrols in identified flashpoints for these achievements.
He broke down the arrests: officers apprehended 14 suspected armed robbers, two gunrunners, one suspected car thief, five suspected bandit informants, and 14 suspects linked to homicide.
He reported that officers also arrested 20 suspected rapists and 22 individuals involved in illegal drug peddling within the period under review.
The PPRO further revealed that police arrested a notorious gang member allegedly involved in violent crimes and linked to the killing of one Abu Abbasi, adding that investigations continue.
He said the command also dismantled criminal networks. Officers arrested informants and gunrunners supplying logistics to bandits in Dutsinma and Safana Local Government Areas.
Sadiq-Aliyu emphasised that all 12 rescued kidnap victims received medical attention and have been safely reunited with their families, underlining the operation’s success in victim recovery.
He listed items officers recovered during the operations, including two PKT rifles, two AK-47 rifles, three locally fabricated firearms, two ammunition belts, and 974 rounds of live ammunition.
