PHOTOS: Police arrest 1,254 suspects, recover stolen goods in Jigawa

The Jigawa State Police Command has made significant strides in combatting crime, arresting 1,254 suspects across various criminal activities, including armed robbery, cattle rustling, drug dealing, theft, and rape, in 2024.

In an interactive session with journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Dutse on Tuesday, Police Commissioner AT Abdullahi revealed the remarkable successes achieved in the past year.

He detailed how the police had not only made numerous arrests but also secured convictions and recovered stolen items from criminals across the state.

“The police arrested eight suspects involved in armed robbery in Gwaram town. They were apprehended on November 20, 2024, and confessed to the crime,” said CP Abdullahi.

“The suspects have been charged to court.”

The police also made a breakthrough in a child abuse case.

“We arrested Sani Abdullahi, who sodomized 12 minors in Basirka town. He was caught on November 21, 2024, confessed to the crime, and is now facing trial,” Abdullahi added.

In another case, Isah Isyaku and Sulaiman Yusuf were arrested on December 10, 2024, for vandalizing streetlight armoured cables in Gantsa town. They also admitted to their crimes.

The statistics from the year’s operations are revealing: 88 armed robbery suspects; 19 kidnap suspects; 120 suspected rapists; 158 culpable homicide suspects; and 869 others involved in various offences across the state.

On the recovery front, CP Abdullahi reported a staggering array of seized items: 17 firearms (including AK-47s and locally fabricated rifles), 82 motorcycles and vehicles, 276 rustled animals, 408 tablets of Tramadol, and 622 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The police also recovered 1,274 pieces of robber solution, 347 Exol tablets, 183 suck-and-die items, and 254 Diazepam tablets, along with stolen items such as mobile phones, laptops, solar panels, and cement bags.

“One of the most notable arrests was that of drug baron Sani Bashir on November 29, 2024. We recovered 23 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and 100 packets of robber solution from him,” said Abdullahi.

The police chief attributed the success to the support from the Inspector-General of Police, the Jigawa State Government, and the citizens of the state.

He also thanked the various security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, media, and civil society organizations for their cooperation.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that crime and criminality are curbed in the state,” Abdullahi assured.

“I urge the public to continue providing timely and accurate information to help us in our fight against crime.”

The police commissioner emphasized the implementation of new strategies, including intelligence-led policing, community policing, and visibility policing, which he said have played a pivotal role in the command’s success.

With these efforts, CP Abdullahi reaffirmed the commitment of the police to make Jigawa a safer place for law-abiding citizens.