- * As Command Nabs 1,503 High-profile Criminal Suspects, Rescue 393 Kidnapped Victims, Recovers Weapons
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has commended the Katsina State Police Command for its giant strides in combating crimes and criminality in the State.
The IGP particularly praised the Police Command for rolling back the negative trend of the activities of bandits and other criminal elements in the State, and for rescuing kidnapped victims and reuniting them with their families, and improving public confidence.
The police boss gave the commendation during a one-day official visit to Katsina State on Thursday, September 2, 2021, as part of efforts to carry out an on-the-spot security assessment in the State.
Part of the IGP's visit was also to mobilize members of the public and other credible stakeholders against crimes and boosting of the confidence of Police operatives in the Command as well as providing the needed leadership for an onslaught against crimes and criminality.
The IGP who is noted as an excellent crime fighter stated that the operational strategies currently being implemented by the Force to stabilize security order across the country and improve public safety has begun to yield positive and significant results.
Usman Alkali Baba further noted that within the past four months of the current administration, in Katsina state, for instance, a total of one thousand, five hundred and three (1,503) suspected high-profile criminals were arrested in connection with different violent crimes in the State, including kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, sexual and gender-based crimes, etc.
The arrests include two hundred and sixty-seven (267) suspected Armed Robbers, three hundred and four (304) suspected Kidnappers, ninety-seven (97) bandits, amongst others. He also stated that Police operatives also successfully rescued three hundred and ninety-three (393) kidnapped victims and have since reunited them with their families and communities.
The IGP also confirmed that the Force has made tremendous success in breaking the weapon supply chain to bandits and other criminal elements in the State. This, he said is evident in the interception and recovery of sophisticated weapons, including 4 GPMG, 37 AK47 rifles, 2 G3 rifles, 288 anti-aircraft ammunition, and 118 AK47 ammunition.
Meanwhile, the IGP has assured the nation that despite the harsh operational environment in which Police officers operate, the Force will continue to improve on the gains in the fight against crimes across the country.
He called on parents and guardians, traditional rulers, political leaders, and religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders, to provide the necessary leadership, counseling, mentoring, and support needed to guide citizens, particularly, our youths, out of the path of crime and criminality. NNL.
