The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 22 suspects over various criminal offenses.
The state Police Commisioner, Zaki Ahmed, stated this while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Command headquarters.
He warned all criminals with a plan to truncate activities and the ember months to stop or leave or face the full wrath of the law as the command was ready to flush them out of the state.
“I am using this medium to warn emphatically that the Command is fully prepared and battle ready to ensure that all law-abiding citizens enjoy the ember months peacefully.
“I am calling on all the criminals and their groups desiring to truncate this intention to desist as any breach to public peace will be dealt with severely as the command is ready for that,” he said.
According to him, efforts to ensure that the crime wave in the state is reduced have been stepped up from October 14, 2016 to date. To ensure protection of lives and property within the state, the command has intensified a 24-hour round the clock patrol, raids of identified black spots and flash points with a view to effectively check crime rate in the state.
The Police chief explained that the Command recorded successes such as kidnapping and homicide.
Police detectives attached to command Anti-kidnapping unit (AKU) carried out operations at Liman Katagum forest.
He said, “Police arrested one Mohammed Ibrahim (male) and 25 years of Tafawa Balewa at the point of collecting ransom from a victim, one Abdu Mamman (male) and 30 years of Gansa village Toro council. Same suspects had on November 11, 2016 at about 00:30hrs stormed Ganjuwa village via Soro, Ganjuwa LGA and shot dead the father of the victim, Muhammadu Maman (75 years), who resisted to be kidnapped thereafter called deceased family and demanded for the sum of one million naira.”
He said that the Command recovered the following exhibits one Bajaj motorcycle, one handset used for ransom negotiation. Suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime and cooperating with police in the investigation, he said.
He added that the command recovered arms and ammunition including one revolver gun with AK47 ammunition capability, one single barreled gun, one locally made single barrel, three Dane guns, cutlass, bows and arrows.
Zaki further explained that two vehicles with reg. No AA 416 TFB and Reg. No AH 82 KTG used in conveying stolen domestic animals were also recovered. Seven motorcycles used by the suspected kidnappers and domestic animals, two sheep and four goats and N3,050 cash, eight handsets used by the suspected kidnappers to negotiate ransom were recovered.
Meanwhile, the command had rescued 14 hostages including a 64-year-old Hajiya Hadija Aminu, who was kidnapped at Tibako village Ganjuwa LGA “and arrested 22 suspects including 13 suspected kidnappers that had been terrorising Ganjuwa, Toro, T/Balewa and Warji LGAs of Bauchi. One armed robbery suspect whose syndicate specializes in snatching motor vehicles at gun point. Eight suspected syndicate who specializes in stealing domestic animals and their receivers within Bauchi metropolis”.
He however assured the public of the command’s commitment to ensure safety and security in the state.
