Kaduna state Police command said it has arrested 98 Sara-Suka urban gangsters for homicide, attacking with cutlass and knives and phone snatching.
The command said 19 have been charged to court, while 61 are undergoing investigation at various Police divisions.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said on Saturday that according to a Police report submitted to Governor Nasir el-Rufai by the state Police command, 18 of the arrested gangsters are transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation ahead of prosecution.
He said el-Rufai received the report having commissioned the operation to tackle urban gangsterism, which took place between April 26 and 28, 2023.
Aruwan said, “Worried by the increase in urban gangsterism perpetrated by criminals popularly known as ‘Sara-Suka’ in Kaduna metropolis, Governor Nasir el-Rufai who demanded for an aggressive action against the criminals has received a progress report from the Kaduna state Police Command. The criminals had been attacking citizens and snatching their mobile phones and other belongings, a situation which resulted in loss of several lives and severe injuries inflicted on innocent citizens.
“According to the report, which was accompanied with pictorial evidence, a total of 98 suspects were arrested between the 26th and 28th of April, 2023, of which 19 have been charged to court, while 61 are still under investigation at various Divisions within the Kaduna Metropolis. Eighteen of those arrested have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation ahead of prosecution.
“The report further revealed that several exhibits were recovered from the suspects which include snatched mobile phones, sharp knives, sharp scissors, cudgels, dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, assorted hard drugs and accessories to aid their consumption, masters keys and other valuables.
“The Governor tasked the Command to ensure due diligence in prosecution without compromise, and directed that the manhunt for those at large should be intensified until they are all brought to justice. He also condoled with the families that lost their loves ones and wished the injured speedy recovery.
“He further allayed their fears of any possible compromise of the cases, stating that the Kaduna state government has an effective mechanism in place through the Ministry of Justice to ensure a thorough and scrupulous process.
“The Governor called on members of communities such as Rigasa, Kawo, Ungwan Muazu, Badarawa, Kwaru, Rigachikun, Barnawa, Ungwan Rimi, Trikania, Nasarawa, Makera, Sabon Tasha, Narayi, Rafin Guza, Tudun Wada and other locations, to provide the names of suspected gang members in their localities for follow-up action by security agencies. Relevant information may be forwarded to the Security Operations Room on the phone lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.”
