The Katsina State Police Command says it has arrested no fewer than 120 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, homicide, rape, to drug trafficking in a sustained crackdown on criminal networks across the state.
Spokesperson for the command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Katsina.
Sadiq said the arrests were made during coordinated operations aimed at curbing insecurity and restoring peace in the state.
According to him, the breakdown of the arrests shows that 18 suspects were held for armed robbery, 28 for culpable homicide, five for attempted homicide, 20 for rape and unnatural offences, and 28 others for drug-related crimes.
He added that 97 of the cases have already been charged to court, while 22 remain under investigation.
He also revealed that the command rescued 47 kidnapped victims and 39 victims of human trafficking during the period under review.
Items recovered from the suspects include one AK-47 rifle, a locally made gun, 183 rounds of live ammunition, three vehicles, one tricycle, four motorcycles, and 201 rustled animals.
The police also recovered 131 packets of illicit drugs, 100 metres of vandalised high-tension cables, and other incriminating materials.
Sadiq reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the fight against crime, stressing that the police will continue to intensify efforts to secure the lives and property of residents.
“We will not relent in our determination to rid the state of criminal elements,” he said. “However, we urge members of the public to cooperate with security agencies and refrain from spreading fake news, as misinformation can undermine our collective efforts.”n