The police command in Bauchi says it has arrested 352 suspected bandits, rustlers, kidnappers in the past six months.

Police commissioner Abiodun Alabi stated this in a statement issued on Thursday.

Mr Alabi said the command recorded 221 cases and arrested 352 suspects between March 8 to date at different times and locations across the state within the period under review.

The police chief explained that the suspects were arrested for kidnapping, banditry, rustling, thuggery, rape, and violent crimes.

“The location of Lame Burra forest in Ningi local government area, Balmo forest in Ganjuwa LGA, Yuda, Mundu, Panshanu and Megemu forests in Toro LGA and Yankari Games Reserve in Alkaleri LGA provide cover for criminal elements,” said the police statement.

The command recorded 42 robbery cases and arrested 115 suspects; 18 cases of kidnapping and 29 suspects arrested, 59 cases of rape and 69 suspects arrested with 35 cases of culpable homicide and 66 suspects arrested,” said the police.

“The command also recorded seven cases of attempt to commit homicide and five suspects arrested, 35 cases of theft and 49 suspects arrested while 25 cases of other offences and 19 suspects arrested,” the statement added.

It added that police officers rescued 15 kidnapped victims, mopped up 88 firearms and 6,460 ammunitions from unlicensed individuals.

The command reassured the public that it was intensifying “visibility” policing, community partnership, and constant raids of black spots as preventive crime measures.

It said that included “regular foot and vehicular patrols, surveillance on buildings and vulnerable areas, stop and search, and intelligence-led policing through a partnership with sister agencies.”

Mr Alabi reiterated the police’s commitment to protecting lives and properties in the state.

“We will not relent on our Oars and continue to put in measures to weed out unscrupulous elements towards a crime-free state,” he stated.

(NAN)