•Four GPMGs, 37 AK-47 rifles, 288 anti-aircraft ammunition, others recovered
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, has lauded the Katsina State Police Command for its giant strides in combating crime and criminality, particularly reversing the negative trend of the activities of bandits and other criminal elements, rescuing kidnapped victims and reuniting them with their families, as well as improving public confidence.
The IGP gave the commendation during a one-day official visit to the state on Thursday, September 2, 2021, as part of efforts in carrying out on-the-spot security assessment, mobilizing members of the public and other credible stakeholders against crime, boosting the confidence of police operatives in the command and providing the needed leadership for onslaught against crime and criminality.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, on Friday, September 3, the IGP, noted for his crime fighting prowess, said that the operational strategies currently being implemented by the Force to stabilize security order across the country and improve public safety had begun to yield positive and significant results.
The IGP further stated that in the state, for instance, within the past four months of the current administration, a total of 1,503 suspected high-profile criminals were arrested in connection with different criminal offences, including kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, sexual and gender-based crimes, among others.
Those arrested included 267 suspected armed Robbers, 304 suspected kidnappers and 97 bandits, among others. He also stated that police operatives also successfully rescued 393 kidnapped victims and had since reunited them with their families and communities.
The IGP also confirmed that the Force had made tremendous success in breaking the weapon supply chain to bandits and other criminal elements in the State. This, he said was evident in the interception and recovery of sophisticated weapons, including four General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 37 AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, 288 anti-aircraft ammunition and 118 AK-47 ammunition.
The IGP assured the nation that despite the harsh operational environment in which police officers were operating, the police force would continue to improve on the gains in the fight against crime across the country.
Alkali called on parents and guardians, traditional rulers, political leaders and religious leaders and other critical stakeholders to provide necessary leadership, counseling, mentoring and support needed to guide citizens, particularly the youths, from the path of crime and criminality.
