Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested 575 suspects for various offenses, as part of efforts to ensure the safety, and security of citizens and uphold the values of justice, fairness, and accountability in 2024.
The Sokoto state was adjudged and considered one of the most peaceful states in the country if not for the recent cases of kidnapping and banditry.
The state was not also totally free from other forms of crimes, which include culpable homicide, rape, vandalism, drug abuse, motorcycle snatching, fraudsters, livestock Rustling, and cases of armed robbery.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, in a statement made available to newsmen, said: “I am confident to clearly state that, the police have made significant efforts in reducing the aforementioned crimes to the barest minimum.
“We have implemented innovative strategies to tackle emerging security challenges, fostered stronger community partnerships, and enhanced welfare and training programs for our officers and men”.
He said the command has recorded several achievements through various methods adopted in tackling security challenges in and around the state.
According to the statement, the Command deployed several measures to enhance safety includes effective crime control, civil disorder control and reduction in fear of crime and crime perpetrators, intelligence policing, community policing, visibility policing, adherence to the ethics of the force, synergy with other security agencies and respect for the rules of law.
“It is gratifying to mention that the above-mentioned strategies yielded fruitful results in such a way that, the Command made significant strides in a notable increase in arrests and recoveries.
“In 2024 Sokoto state Police command was able to arrest Five hundred and Seventy five (575) suspected criminals for major crimes from January to December of the year under review.”
The statement further stated that among the suspects arrested, Fifty (51) suspects were arrested for armed robbery while another set of Fifty One (51) suspects were arrested for kidnapping while Nine (9) suspects were arrested for Rape.
“One hundred and twenty Nine (129) Suspects arrested for culpable Homicide and eighteen (18) suspects for attempted aurder.” added the statement.
Others arrested as mentioned in the statement were eleven (11) suspects for causing grievous hurt, seven (7) suspects for unnatural offense, six (6) suspects for terrorism, Ninety (90) suspects for theft, five (5) suspects for housebreaking, thirty-nine (39) for CBT and seven (11) suspects for receiving stolen properties.
It was also stated in the statement that Sixty (61) Suspects were arrested for Mischief by Fire, Eight (8) Suspects for Unlawful possession of firearms, Seventeen (17) Suspects for Disturbance of Public Peace, Seven (7) Suspects for Fire Arms offense, Thirty-One (31) Suspects for Offences Against Properties and Twenty-four (24) Suspects for Offences Against Persons.
The statement further stated that several recoveries were made during the arrest which included one (1) general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) with six rounds of live ammunition, nine (9) AK47 rifles, 3 Magazines, and 341 rounds of live ammunition, Four (4) locally made AK47 rifles and two live ammunition.
Others are One (1) locally made pistol, One (1) Dane gun, three (3) motor vehicles and tanker trucks, ninety-seven (97) rustled Cows, 29 Sheep, one Donkey, and twenty-seven (27) rescued victims of kidnapping, as stated in the statement.
According to the statement, the Sokoto State Government donated thirty-four (34) brand new Toyota Hilux and renovated the burnt offices at the administration department, thereby providing a conducive working environment for officers and other ranks.
“The statement highlighted that the command during the year received an allocation of One Toyota Hilux and Five (5) hunter motorcycles from Force Headquarters Abuja which were duly deployed to areas of need to enhance the Commands operational capability in line with the IGP’s Safer School Initiative.”
The statement maintained that the command has also made giant strides in the expansion and modernization of operations in communities like Rabah, Gandi, Wurno, Tangaza, Durbawa, More, and Achida towns through constant raids and intelligence-led policing with a view to making policing closer to the citizens.
