The police command in Katsina State said it neutralised 54 suspected terrorists and lost five officers in gun battles over the year.

Commissioner of Police Shehu Umar-Nadada, in his end of year press briefing, said in 2022, the command arrested 1,102 suspects in connection with 705 reported cases.

Mr Umar-Nadada noted that “989 arrested suspects are undergoing prosecution” in various courts while “177 suspected armed robbers were arrested and 169 suspects charged to court while eight cases are under investigation.”

“Also, 241 suspected bandits/kidnappers and informants were arrested, in which 239 suspects had been charged to court while 16 are under investigation,” Mr Umar-Nadada said on Friday.

He further said 1,092 domestic animals were recovered, which consisted of 727 cows, 370 sheep and goats, were recovered from the hoodlums.

Mr Umar-Nadada revealed that 266 suspects were arrested in 245 reported cases of rape and unnatural offences, in which 260 suspects had been charged to court, saying that six suspects were undergoing investigation.

“Also, 46 victims of human trafficking were rescued in four reported cases, which were transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), office for further investigation. 

“And 122 kidnapped victims were also rescued from suspected bandits/kidnappers during the period under review, while 22 suspected stolen vehicles were recovered and 18 stolen/bandits’ motorcycles were recovered. 

“During the period under review, we were able to recover 14 AK 47 rifles, two locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, 19 locally made guns and 81 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition of AK 47 rifle,” he said. 

(NAN)