Kaduna police command on Wednesday paraded 91 suspected kidnappers, bandits and armed robbers, and 986 others suspects for violating the lockdown order imposed to curb spread of Covid-19.
Kaduna state Commissioner of police, Umar Muri, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kaduna said, the gallant determination of our personnel has yielded some successes with apprehension of 91 suspects for various crimes which includes banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, culpable homicide, rape, shop breaking, theft and other mundane crimes.
“Recoveries made during investigation include 15 AK47 rifles, 10 English made pistols, 10 locally made guns, one pump action rifle, one locally made revolver pistol, one G3 gun, 1,575 live ammunitions, 28 live cartridges, 21 rounds of G3 ammunition, 20 motor vehicles of different models and descriptions, nine motor cycles of different models, three tricycles.
“Others include 246 cows, 60 sheep, 20 bags of rice, six bags of beans, 71 pieces of cutlasses/knives/swords/scissors, 12 mobile cellphones, one anti tracking device, 10 TV/DVD sets, 16 laptops/iPads, 14 Italian handbags, two iron rods and eight bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.”
The CP said diligent investigation into various allegations is ongoing as some of the suspects have confessed to their crimes and will be prosecuted accordingly.
“The Kaduna Police Command in its bid to enforce the lockdown and social distancing orders imposed by the state government, which took effect from 26th March, 2020 to date, with a view to curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the state and environs, has arrested 986 violators across the state amongst which 48 suspects who are mostly religious leaders and beer parlour operators.”
“The suspects have been charged to court for prosecution while the remaining suspects will be arraigned in court accordingly.
“The command in collaboration with the force headquarters Abuja, had on 5th February, 2020 launched a well coordinated operation code named “Taking the battle to the bandits camps” where several identified notorious bandits camps within Birnin Gwari and Giwa axis were successfully destroyed.
“The major yardstick to measure a commands achievement is through the number of convictions gained, the Kaduna state command was able to secure 38 convictions on various criminal allegations within the period under review as I ensure that the police do not go to courts for jamboree.”
He however enjoined the people of Kaduna to keep supporting the command with prompt and useful information that will aid the relentless battle against criminal elements by reporting any suspicious persons to the nearest police station or via the command’s designated emergency response numbers.
