The Yobe State Police command, has secured 152 convictions with the arrest of no fewer than 448 suspects for allegedly committing various crimes across the state.

 

The command said the convictions and arrests were recorded from the 407 cases during the period under review.

 

Unveiling the 407 convictions and arrests on Friday in Damaturu, the Commissioner of Police, Usman Jibrin disclosed: “The 407 cases included 31 murders, 35 rapes, 8 kidnappings, 11 armed robberies, and 322 other criminal offences committed in various parts of the state.”

 

The Commissioner added that 127 cases are currently before the courts, while 69 cases are still pending in courts.

 

Jibrin further revealed, “No fewer than 17 case files are awaiting legal advice, while 42 cases were acquitted

 

“The major break through of the command was the discovery of a suspected drug warehouse in Potiskum, along the 150-kilometre Damaturu-Azare road,” he said.

 

He added that a suspected drug baron was also arrested, while officers recovered eight cartons of illicit drugs, one-and-a-half Ghana-Must-Go bags containing Tramadol and Exzol tablets, and ₦835,500 suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking.

 

Beyond the secure of convictions, Jobrin said; “Our men repelled an attack by members of the suspected criminal syndicate during the midnight operation, while efforts are made to arrest the fleeing suspects.”

 

The police chief also announced the arrest of a suspected kidnapping kingpin allegedly linked to abduction and armed robbery operations in Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

 

According to him, investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network

 

In another operation, police raided criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of 14 suspected drug dealers and users.

 

He explained that during the raids, officers recovered more than 300 sachets and packages of suspected illicit drugs, including Tramadol, Indian hemp and Vega tablets, the police said.

 

He said this led to the dismantling of a suspected fraud syndicate accused of using fake bank transfer alerts to obtain goods.

 

“The two-hour operation led to the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of suspected counterfeit foreign currencies and other exhibits,” he said.