From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Police Command said on Wednesday that it killed 21 bandits and rescued 206 kidnapped victims from various locations in the state from January to December 2022.
The Commissioner of Police for the Command, Yekini A Ayoku, who said so while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Kaduna added that 780 suspects were arrested in connection with various forms of crimes within the year under review.
According to him, “a total number of One 116 suspects were convicted, 49 rifles/guns were recovered, 1,359 rounds of live ammunition were recovered, 17 bandits’ operational motorcycles were recovered.
“21) armed bandits were neutralized, 1,446) rustled livestock were recovered at different parts of the state while 15 bags of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp were also recovered”.
The 40th Police boss attributed the successes recorded to the support of the state government, sister agencies, traditional rulers, locals and other well-meaning Nigerians, promising to build on such relationships to ensure a more secure Kaduna State.
He specially thanked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai for their continued support and operational guidance to the Command in addressing the security challenges confronting the state.
CP Ayoku also reiterated the commitment of the Command to Tue Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards conducting free, fair and credible elections in the state come 2023.
“Being the lead agency in election security management, the Police Command has been keeping tabs and closely monitoring activities in the political arena.
“I have had two (2) engagement meetings with stakeholders in the political process towards ensuring seamless, peaceful and hitch-free electioneering activities in the state.
“Let me exploit this opportunity to re-echo my warnings to our politicians to avoid actions and conducts that are contrary to extant laws guiding the electoral process as nobody will be spared in our determination to enforce the laws.
“The Police, leading other security agencies will police and secure the electoral process in a very professional, unbiased and impartial manner and will give robust support to INEC to deliver free, fair and credible elections come 2023,” he promised.