Niger police arrest suspected criminals in new year operations

It was a harvest of criminal elements in Niger State during the New Year celebration as the state Police Command has announced the arrest of 21 suspected kidnappers and cattle rustlers, as well as the recovery of 477 cattle, 90 sheep and assorted weapons during raids carried out in parts of the state.

According to a press statement made available to Metro in Minna by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bala Elkana, the operations began last Wednesday when the police raided a kidnappers’ den at Tegina, in Rafi Local Government Area of the state after a tip-off.

“During that raid, five suspects were arrested, while a locally-made pistol was recovered. However, on the same day, the police arrested one of the most wanted cattle rustlers, Abdullahi Alhalti, whose gang members had been terrorising the state in recent times, at Kagara, also in Rafi Local Government Area.

DSP Elkana said that the suspect had been linked with rustling of over 500 cattle at Runga and Tegina.

“Also, the police raided cattle rustlers’ den at Pongu Daji, in Lapai Local Government Area, where three suspects, namely Rabe Bello, Mohammed Aliyu and Adamu Mallam, were arrested while two double-barrel guns, 124 rustled cattle and 36 sheep were recovered from them.

“In another operation that lasted for six hours  at Rugan Mugu and Dogon Ruwa, a boundary community with Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which is notorious for cattle rustling and kidnapping activities, 12 notorious kidnappers and cattle rustlers were arrested, while 253 cattle, 56 sheep  and various kinds of assorted weapons and charms were recovered,” DSP Elkana said, disclosing further that all the cases were  under investigation while the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

Meanwhile the state police command has debunked media reports that some suspected fleeing Boko Haram members from recaptured  Sambisa forest in Borno State  had invaded some villages in Rafi Local Government of the state on New Year day.

This was coming on the heels of some online reports (Nigerian Tribune not included) that some fleeing gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members had invaded the communities in the council areas, kidnapping residents, rustling cows and raping women.

The refutal was contained in a press statement signed by the PPRO, DSP Elkana, as he said that the report was not only false but malicious and calculated towards causing fear and panic among the peace loving people of Niger State.

“The report is clearly a fiction emanating from the imaginations of the writers. And for the avoidance of doubt, Niger State is among the few states in the country that has conquered cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed bandits.

“It is on record that within the past few months, the Command in its aggressive operations arrested over 40 armed bandits and recovered over 1,000 cattle and various types of assorted weapons in Rafi Local Government Area alone”, said Elkana.

He disclosed further that some of the council areas shared boundaries with Kaduna, Zamfara and Kebbi States, adding that the Command had over 500 mobile policemen and operatives of Special-Anti Robbery Squad patrolling the villages.

Elkana thereby enjoined members of the public to discountenance the reports, remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

He said that the State Police Command was doing everything within the Law to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties of the people, while political offices holders should refrain from statements capable of truncating the long enjoyed peace in Niger State.

Elkana also advised Media Practitioners in the state to always verify their reports before publication in order to adequately inform the general public.