By Matthew Tabe
In a bid to curb miscreants’ activities the Kaduna state Police Command said it has killed 21 bandits, rescued 206 kidnapped victims, arrested 780 suspected criminals and recovered 1,408 arms and ammunitions in the last eight months.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yekini Ayoku, who disclosed this on Wednesday during the Command’s end of year briefing, said the arrests, recoveries and killings of the criminal elements were parts of the Command’s achievements during the period.
He said 116 of the 780 arrested suspects have been convicted, while 1,446 rustled livestock were recovered at different parts of the state within the period under review.
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Ayoku, who is the 40th Kaduna state CP, said, “Upon assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna state on 8th April, 2022, on the heels of the incident of train attack of 28th March, 2022 along Abuja – Kaduna rail track and the earlier security breach within the Kaduna International Airport general area, the need for urgent safeguard of commuters/road users especially along Kaduna – Abuja expressway in the absence of a functional rail and commercial air operation was considered paramount and imperative.
With these challenges met on ground, I had to immediately and swiftly review and rejig existing architecture, crime map the state, re-strategize and mobilise all operational, tactical and intelligence resources and deploy same massively cognisant of the crimes prevalent in the different areas of the state. Abuja – Kaduna highway was prioritized with heavy motorized and static patrols complemented by military backup and aerial patrol and surveillance from the Force Headquarters.
“The objective was to keep the road open and safe for travelers being, as at that time, the only major means of accessing Kaduna and other North-western states from Abuja and the southern part of the country. This objective was achieved as throughout the period under review, the Command was able to minimize any form of security breach/threat on the highway through the stated upgrade in visibility policing and prompt response to distress calls.”
He said, “780 suspects were arrested in connection with various forms of crimes. A total number of 116 suspects were convicted, 206 kidnapped victims were rescued. Forty nine rifles/guns were recovered, 1,359 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. While 17 bandits’ operational motorcycles were recovered; 21 armed bandits were neutralised, 1,446 rustled livestock were recovered at different parts of the state, while 15 bags of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp were intercepted,” CP Ayoku said.
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Speaking on the security preparations for the 2023 general elections, the Police Commissioner warned politicians to avoid actions and conducts that are contrary to extant laws guiding the electoral process, adding that, nobody will be spared in the Police determination to enforce the laws.