The Katsina State Police Command on Monday said it arrested no fewer than 188 suspects for various offences and rescued 12 kidnapped victims in March.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Katsina, noting that the achievements were recorded through intensified operations across the state.
He said the arrests were part of sustained efforts to tackle kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and arms trafficking, adding that the operations were driven by credible intelligence, inter-agency collaboration and improved patrols in identified hotspots.
According to him, those arrested include 14 suspected armed robbers, two gunrunners, one suspected car thief, five suspected bandit informants and 14 suspects linked to homicide cases.
He added that 20 suspected rapists and 22 persons allegedly involved in drug trafficking were also apprehended within the period under review.
Sadiq-Aliyu further revealed that operatives arrested a notorious gang member allegedly connected to the killing of one Abu Abbasi, while several criminal networks supplying logistics to bandits in Dutsinma and Safana Local Government Areas were dismantled.
He said the 12 rescued victims had received medical attention and had since been reunited with their families.
Items recovered during the operations include two PKT rifles, two AK-47 rifles, three locally made firearms, two ammunition belts and 974 rounds of live ammunition.
Other exhibits, according to him, were 30 rustled animals and five motorcycles used by criminal elements.
The police spokesman attributed the successes to targeted raids on criminal hideouts, enhanced surveillance along major routes and strengthened community policing strategies.
He commended other security agencies and residents for their cooperation, stressing that intelligence sharing had significantly improved operational outcomes.
Sadiq-Aliyu reiterated the command’s resolve to sustain the tempo of its operations, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through designated emergency lines.
