Kano Police arrest 244 suspects, recover arms, drugs, vehicles

The Kano State Police Command has apprehended 244 suspects for crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, thuggery and vehicle theft. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori made this announcement during a press conference on Sunday, detailing the arrests resulted from intelligence-led actions, round-the-clock patrols, targeted raids and cooperation with local communities and other law enforcement bodies.

Eight suspects were linked to kidnappings, while 28 were associated with armed robberies, 19 were involved in drug dealing and 172 were suspects of thuggery. Additional arrests were made for other offenses, totaling to 117 individuals.

In the process of these operations, the police recovered an estimated N1.23 trillion and $684 million in confiscated assets. Bakori revealed that 117 suspects were detained during simultaneous actions at key criminal hotspots in Kano. He attributed the improved security situation in areas like Dala, Kofar Nasarawa, Sheka and Hotoro to these operations, and announced intensified efforts in Bachirawa, Gobirawa and Tudun Fulani to break up remaining thuggery networks.

The police commissioner also reported that enhanced surveillance along the state's borders led to the arrest of kidnappers, bandits and gunrunners, as well as the seizure of weapons. Detailed accounts of some operations included a successful infiltration of a suspected gunrunning syndicate on August 13. During this operation, a police officer intercepted a suspect at Rijiya Zaiki Motor Park and recovered a pistol loaded with 48 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, along with two more pistols.

Other operations resulted in the seizure of additional firearms and ammunition, along with six motor vehicles, four tricycles and seven motorcycles allegedly involved in criminal activities.