The police command in Borno has arrested 103 suspects in a major clampdown on thugs, drug peddlers, and other criminals in the Maiduguri metropolis. This was disclosed in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Nahum Daso, on Tuesday.

Mr Daso said the arrests were made during coordinated township patrols and raids conducted by the Police Rapid Response Squad Social Vices Unit and other security agencies.

“The operations, carried out on the directives of the commissioner of police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, targeted identified crime-prone areas and security hotspots across the metropolis.

“These areas are Gwange, Santiago, Texaco, Ajari, Gadan Zare, Budum, Shehuri, Bulabulin, Abbaganaram, Baga Road and Gidan Dambe. Others are Mairi, Kuwait, Bakari, Zanneri, Polo, Kaleri, Damboa Road, Circular and Moduganari,” he said.

He said the suspects were arrested for offences bordering on public nuisance, possession and sale of illicit drugs, as well as possession of dangerous weapons.

Mr Daso said preliminary screening and investigations are ongoing, and those found culpable would be prosecuted under the law.

The recovered exhibits, he said, are 889 wraps of Indian hemp, 104 wraps of Erinmo, seven packs of Colorado, methamphetamine, eight bottles of codeine syrup, 266 tablets of D5, 300 capsules of Exole and various quantities of other controlled substances.

Other items recovered are four sharp knives, a cutlass, an axe, 11 rounds of live ammunition, four ice bunkers, three Shisha pots and 11 ice bulbs.

(NAN)