*Police Bust Syndicate, Rescue 73 Victims, Apprehend 175 Suspects
THE Katsina State Police Command said it successfully dismantled a kidnapping syndicate and rescued a four-year-old victim in the process.
A statement by the Command’s spokesman, Abubakar Aliyu (DSP), disclosed that four members of the syndicate were arrested, while one round of AK-47 live ammunition was recoverd.
According to the statement: “On February 20, this year, the Command received a complaint letter written by one Alhaji Badamasi Bala of Madaci Yan Nono quarters, Katsina, on the kidnapping of his daughters, aged 14 and four.
“A ransom of ₦50million was demanded by the kidnappers to secure their release.
“Upon receipt of the letter, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, detailed the Command’s anti-kidnapping to investigate. .
“About four months from the date of the kidnapping, the eldest daughter surfaced. When questioned, she confessed to having conspired with three others to kidnap her four-year-old sister and faked her own kidnapping.
“Quickly, the remaining three members of the syndicate, aged 25, 19 and 16, were arrested and the four-year-old victim was rescued unhurt. They all confessed to the commission of the offence.
“During investigation, one live round of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered from their possession. Investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the Command said it rescued 73 kidnap victims and apprehended over 175 suspects for various offences in the month of May this year.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday evening, June 11, at the Command’s headquarters in Katsina, Aliyu said those arrested include 15 suspects in connection with a case of armed robbery; 20 in connection with a case of murder and or culpable homicide and one in connection with a case of kidnapping, 30 suspects in connection with cases of rape and 108 in connection with offences not mentioned above.”
He listed exhibits recovered to include one locally fabricated AK49; one locally made revolver pistol; 506 pieces of 7.62mm live rounds of ammunition; seven suspected stolen motorcycles, 174 suspected rustled animals and the 73 kidnapped victims.
“These achievements would not have been possible without the support of the Katsina State Government and the people of the state.
“However, we solicit for more support and cooperation from the public to enable us to further improve on these successes and the people to continue reporting suspicious activities and crimes to the nearest Police station or use our emergency numbers,” he added.
