Police Kill 38 Bandits, Arrest 999 Criminals in Katsina

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command on yesterday said it has killed 38 bandits and apprehended 999 suspected criminals in connection with 608 reported cases within one year in the state.

Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, who disclosed this during an end of the year press conference, said 874 arrested suspects were undergoing prosecution in various competent courts of law in the state.

Buba, represented by the command’s Public Relations Officers, SP Gambo Isah, explained that 246 suspects were also arrested in 195 reported cases of rape and unnatural offences within the period under review.

He added that 222 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers were nabbed and 208 suspects had been charged to court while four suspects were under investigation by operatives of the command.

He further averred that the command recovered four GPMG, 44 AK 47 rifles, two LAR and G3 rifles, 20 locally made guns, 689 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition of AK 47 rifle as well as 109 anti-aircraft ammunition (AA).

“244 suspected cattle rustlers were arrested of which 230 suspects have been charged to court while 14 suspects are under investigation.

“In the course of this campaign, 38 bandits were neutralised in various gun battles while five police officers paid the supreme price.

“1,243 domestic animals, which consist of 867 cows, 352 sheep, 24 goats and one donkey were recovered from the hoodlums,” Buba said.

He, however, warned those he described as recalcitrant bandits and their informants to either surrender or be dealt with “according to the extant laws of the land”.