The Katsina State Police Command on Friday said it lost five of its officers during gunfire exchange with suspected terrorists in 2022, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Aminu Umar, who was killed few months ago in Dutsinma Local Government Area.

The command, however, said that 54 bandits were neutralised, while 241 suspected bandits, kidnappers and or their informants were charged to court during same period. 

Commissioner of Police in the state, Shehu Nadada made this known while briefing newsmen on achievements recorded by the command for the year. 

Nadada said 1,102 suspects were arrested in connection with 705 reported cases, while 989 of these are undergoing prosecution in various courts of law in the state. He said 177 suspected armed robbers were arrested during the year, with 169 of them charged to court while eight cases were under investigation.

He said 46 victims of human trafficking were rescued in four reporter cases, and have since been transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation.

He said arms recovered during the period included 14 AK-47 rifles, two locally made AK-47 rifles, 19 locally made guns, and 81 rounds of 76.2mm AK-47 ammunition. 

Nadada said 122 kidnapped victims were rescued during same period, while 1, 092 domestic animals that included 727 cows, and 370 sheep, were recovered.

According to him, a total number of one 1,102 suspects were arrested in connection with 705 reported cases. While a total number of 989 arrested suspects are undergoing prosecution in various competent courts of law in the State.

He said, “A total number of 177 suspected armed robbers were arrested and 169 suspects charged to court while eight cases are under investigation.

“A total of 241suspected bandits/kidnappers/ and informants to bandits, were arrested; in which 239 suspects have been charged to court while 16 suspects are under investigation. 

“In the course of this campaign, 54 bandits were neutralised in various gun battles while five police officers paid the supreme price.”

“Again, 1, 092 domestic animals were recovered, which consist of 727 cows, 370 sheep and goats were recovered from the hoodlums. Also, 266 suspects were arrested in 245 reported cases of rape and unnatural offences; in which 260 suspects have been charged to court. Six suspects are undergoing investigation.

“Forty-six victims of Human Trafficking were rescued in four reported cases, which were transferred to NAPTIP office for further investigation. One hundred and twenty-two kidnapped victims were also rescued from suspected bandits/kidnappers during the period under review.”

According to him, 22 suspected stolen motor vehicles were recovered and 18 stolen/bandits’ motorcycles were recovered, saying that 27 suspected motor vehicles thieves arrested and have been charged to court. He noted that 71 suspected vandals were arrested and large amount of cable wire/other electrical items recovered and have been charged to court for prosecution.

He continued: “Twenty-one suspected Indian Hemp/illicit drugs traffickers and suppliers of drugs to bandits were arrested and large quantity of illicit drugs such as Pentazocine injections, and Tramadol among other substances such as Jerricans loaded with ‘Suck and Die’ Solution, rubber solution, spirits and dried leaves suspected to be Canavis were recovered.”

Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command has disclosed that its operatives have apprehended 22 suspected kidnappers, and 27 armed robbers, rescued 11 kidnapped victims, and recovered arms and ammunition within the last three months in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Okon Effiong, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the police Command, said his operative has destroyed 15 criminal hideouts, as well as destroyed four illegal crude oil refining sites.

Effiong, who was reeling out the command scorecard in the last three months after taking sway as the police commissioner of the state said: “The summary of what we have done in terms of crime fighting is this; within three months we have arrested 22 suspected Kidnappers, that within this period between October 5 and December 30, we have arrested 27 armed robberies suspected, we have recovered 21 arms, 136 ammunition, 30 live cartage, 11 live magazines, 8 vehicles, 11 rescued kidnapped victims, 15 criminal hideouts raided, 145 persons arrested during the raid, four illegal refining sites discovered and destroyed, 18 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers neutralised during a gun battle and 3 police officers were killed and one injured and still in the hospital.”

The Commissioner of Police also noted that its operatives have apprehended the eight-man-gang of kidnappers that shot dead three policemen on Rumuokoro Flyover and abducted the Chief Executive Officer of an oil company and his project manager a few weeks ago.
Effiong said the ugly incident became an embarrassment to the command, thereby necessitating its operatives to swing into action to redeem its image. 

He explained that his men, through undercover tracked the kidnap syndicate and intercepted them in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State after a gun duel.