Kaduna Police Arrest 780 Suspects, Kill 21 Bandits, Rescue 206 Victims In 2022

Police in Kaduna State have arrested 780 crime suspects and recovered 1,446 rustled livestock in 2022.

Addressing the Command's end-of-year press briefing, Commissioner of Police Yekini Ayoku announced a total of 116 suspects were convicted during the year, as part of their efforts made by the authorities in the fight against armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling in the region.

Ayoku added over the past nine months, officers rescued 206 people who had been kidnapped, recovered 49 guns, killed 21 bandits, and confiscated 15 bags of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp. He further detailed the police also recovered 1,359 rounds of live ammunition and 17 operational motorcycles used by the bandits for their notorious activities.

"Upon assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State on April 8, 2022, on the heels of the train attack of March 28 and the earlier security breach around the Kaduna International Airport, the need for the urgent safeguard of commuters/road users, especially along Kaduna–Abuja expressway in the absence of a functional rail and commercial air operation, was considered paramount and imperative," the Commissioner said, as per The Guardian.

He further affirmed the police are keeping a close eye on the political environment as the country approaches the 2023 general elections.

"I have had two meetings with stakeholders in the political process to ensure seamless, peaceful, and hitch-free electioneering in the state," the 40th Police Commissioner in Kaduna State said.

Ayoku also cautioned politicians against engaging in any activities that would violate existing laws governing the electoral process or strict action would be taken against them.

"Politicians must 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 law," he added, as per This Day Live.

Between Jan. 1 and July 29, terrorists, bandits, and other assailants killed 7,222 people and kidnapped 3,823 individuals in the country, according to the Nigeria Security Report published by Beacon Consulting.

Borno State, located in the Northeast and considered the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists, witnessed the highest number of fatalities with 163 deaths recorded during the specified period. Benue State, which appeared to be the most hounded state in the Middle Belt, emerged second with 90 deaths. Kaduna State followed closely behind with 82 deaths.