Police arrest 305 suspects for banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping in 2021 in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has responded to a media publication, accusing the police of complicity and compromise in the fight against banditry in Kaduna State, purportedly emanated from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase. The Kaduna State Police Command, therefore, reeled out records of activities in combating banditry in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer of Kaduna State Command, ASP Muhammed Jalige, in a statement indicated that within the past 11 months, the Kaduna State Police Command has been at the fore in the fight against banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping in the state. This has, he said, led to the arrest of a total of 305 suspects for involvement in the series of banditry attacks, armed robbery and kidnapping operations on the Kaduna-Abuja highway and other locations in Kaduna State.

The PPRO stated that of the arrested suspects, 242 are being prosecuted at various courts in the State.

ASP Muhammed Jalige disclosed that a total of 161 sophisticated firearms and weapons, and 2,924 ammunition were recovered by the Police in the various crime fighting operations. Also, 168 kidnap victims were successfully rescued and reunited with their families, he added.

The Kaduna Police Command, therefore, stated unequivocally that” “at no time has it connived, aided or abetted the commission of these heinous crimes in the State.

“The report that bandits who were arrested by the Police were subsequently released is unfounded and misleading.

“The provision of the law is clear as to the role of the Police within the gamut of the criminal justice system, including its statutory powers touching on the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.”

The PPRO declared that “the Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Mudassiru Abdullahi, will remain focused in the discharge of these responsibilities.”

The Command enjoined all stakeholders in the fight against insecurity to desist from making comments capable of undermining the fight against banditry and other crimes, not just in Kaduna State but the country at large.

According to the statement: “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mudassiru Abdullahi, hereby, restates that the Command is not discouraged in any way but will be unrelenting in ensuring that the few misguided individuals bent on disrupting the peace of the state by perpetrating these nefarious activities are arrested, and made to face the wrath of the law.”

The CP called on residents of the state to promptly report any suspicious activity within their locality to the nearest police station.