Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Usaini Gumel, has said that over 500 phone snatchers have been prosecuted in the state within the last two months.
Mr Gumel who stated this on Wednesday during a courtesy call paid by the leadership of Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), added that phone snatchers in the state are currently being treated as armed robbers.
He said that the new treatment being given to phone snatchers has drastically reduced the menace of phone snatching which hitherto became prevalent in the ancient commercial city.
“We have succeeded in reducing the menace of cell phone armed robbery in the state. As I speak to you, over 500 cell phone armed robbers have been prosecuted and are currently serving their jail terms at various facility centres within the state,” he said.
He disclosed that out of 16 hoodlums (Yan Dabars) invited for dialogue by his office, nine who submitted themselves have also promised to provide their followers.
“Another issue we are facing is that of Yandabars. We identified 16 of them and invited them for dialogue. Nine have responded. In fact, they came by themselves.
“They have pleaded for amnesty. They have also mentioned their foot soldiers, and promised to provide them to surrender. We are also waiting to receive the remaining ones.”
CP Gumel further stated that his visit to the Dala Hills as part of activities to comb criminal hideouts has yielded positive result.
He however stated that government officials, including lawmakers, who accompanied the police to the Dala Hills operations have promised to build a special police station on top of the Hills, equipped with technological gadgets.
He said when this is done, criminals will no longer see Dala Hills which is one of the famous tourists attraction in Kano as a hideout.
He said part of the secret of his success in policing Kano is constant collaboration with sister-security agencies.
“I am very glad to receive you. I am very happy with the way you address the kind of commitment the Command is showing to secure the state.
“The reward of good work is more work. Whenever somebody says you are good, he is telling you to do more.
“I always tell my officers and men to learn from other places. There is always need for you to benchmark how other police officers or security agents are doing their work.
“I believe in collaborative policing, bringing all trained law enforcement agencies together, exchanging your mandate, and getting the required results.”
He said the Command is also working closely with Magistrates and Judges in the state to ensure smooth justice delivery, “police is the gate of law enforcement agencies. The decision-making body is the court. So we are working closely with them to ensure smooth and fair justice delivery.”
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