Martins Olasehinde
KANO, Nigeria – At least 82 suspects were arrested for “major crimes” in the first weeks of November in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kano, police said.
Kano State Police Command’s spokesman Abdullahi Kiyawa said the crimes included armed robbery, kidnapping, theft, drug trafficking, and fraud,
Speaking to journalists at the command’s headquarters in the Bompai area of Kano, Kiyawa said the arrests followed the implementation of new strategies.
“The implementation of these strategies have yielded positive results as they led to the crackdown on criminal networks such as curtailing remnants of thuggery (Daba) activities within Kano metropolis,” he said.
“Others are dismantling of armed robbery syndicates along Jigawa-Kano and Bauchi-Kano borders and foiling kidnapping incidents along Kaduna-Kano and Katsina-Kano borders.
“These operations conducted resulted in the arrest of a total of 82 suspects and recovery of firearms, dangerous weapons, illicit drugs and stolen properties.
“Items recovered from the criminals included one AK-47 rifle and three locally made guns, 13 cutlasses and 16 knives.
“Others are: three motorcycles, one tricycle, 50 sachets of diazepam tablets, 42 sachets of tramadol tablets, 24 parcels, 175 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be hemp and 10 mobile phones.”
Kano Police Commissioner Salman Dogo said the achievements demonstrate the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order.
Dogo said the command would enhance its security strategies, which includes community policing, intelligence-led operations, and targeted clearance.
The police boss lauded Abba Yusuf, Kano governor, for gifting the command 78 patrol vehicles to boost its crime-fighting capabilities.