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Olabode Adaramola
The Niger state Police command have recorded a major success in restoring law and order in some parts of the state with the arrest of 195 suspects who have been unleashing terror on the residents of the state in recent times among whom were suspected kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other sundry criminals.
The State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Zubairu Muazu while parading the suspects before the newsmen on Monday at the State Police Command Headquarters, Minna , said some communities in the Niger East Senatorial District had suffered several heavy attacks in the hands of the suspects and some of their fleeing accomplice in crime in the last one month in the forms of either cattle rustling and kidnappings for commercial purposes.
He stated further that following “aerial and land operations” carried out by Officers and Men of the Command , not less than 194 suspects were arrested from their hideouts in various locations during the January 2017 operations alone.
“The police in collaboration with sister security agencies took the battle to the dens of armed bandits in Allawa, Kukoki, Pandogari, Isau, Kaffinkoro, Sarkin- Pawa, Shiroro, Mangoro, Lapai and Gurara.
“The aerial surveillance and ground raids culminated into the harvest of arrests and recovery of assorted weapons, said the CP”.
The Police Boss, said among those arrested were “24 most wanted kidnappers and cattle rustlers” while about 612 cattle recovered from the suspects had since been handed over to their rightful owners.
Accordingly, he said, weapons recovered from the suspects were 5 AK riffles 648 rounds of live ammunition, 21 single barrel guns with 248 live cartridges, one revolver riffle and five revolver short guns.
Others he said, were 6 made in Ghana pistols, one locally made pistol, nine Dane guns and other dangerous weapons such as axes, bows and arrows, including assorted knives.
The CP said that a man suspected to be giving treatment to injured cattle rustlers and a box containing some drugs and other medical equipment were also recovered.
He stated further that 21victims were rescued from the criminals hale and hearty while some others were rescued injured.
The police commissioner however advised members of the public “to remain calm and stop peddling rumours” saying the police would always track down any criminal in the state.
