Katsina State Police Command has announced the arrest of 22 suspected armed robbers and 36 people in connection with rape and sodomy crimes in the state in April.

ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development while updating reporters on the command’s achievements during the month under review.

Sadiq-Aliyu further disclosed that ten murder suspects were also apprehended during this time.

According to him, 81 significant crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, culpable homicide, and livestock rustling, were reported.

“Within the period, 69 cases were charged to court, as a total number of 145 suspects were arrested in connection with these suspected cases.

“A total number of 58 suspects were arrested for various offences such as criminal force, intimidation, inciting disturbance, theft, and belonging to gang of brigands, among others.

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“Also, the command has succeeded in neutralising 12 suspected bandits, rescued over 30 kidnapped victims, and recovered 492 rustled animals,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.

The PPRO further announced that on May 5, the command successfully repelled a bandit attack on two commercial cars in Unguwar Boka hamlet, on the Funtua-Gusau Road, rescuing 52 people.

He claimed that a deluxe bus transporting passengers from Onitsha to Gusau, Zamfara State, and a Volkswagen Golf-3 en route to Zaria from Gusau were ambushed by suspected bandits, forcing the driver to detour off the road into the nearby bushes.

“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, the DPO mobilised operatives and responded to the scene, where they engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel, successfully thwarted the kidnapping attempt and rescued all the passengers unhurt.

“Efforts have been intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects. The investigation is still ongoing,” the police spokesman said.