The Kano State Police Command said 873 suspects were arrested for taking the advantage of the 10 days of nationwide protests to commit various types of crimes and violating curfew imposed by the state government.
Addressing newsmen in Kano on Monday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo, gave the breakdown of the crimes allegedly committed by the suspects to include armed robbery, kidnapping, drug peddling, vandalisation and human trafficking.
He also displayed exhibits comprising firearms, cash, bags of Indian hemp and stolen vehicles as items recovered from the suspects.
CP Dogo further announced that about 76 suspects arrested for raising Russian flags during the protest have since been transferred to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja for investigations.
Giving the breakdown of the arrests, the CP said a total of 600 suspects were apprehended for various offences, including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, riot, theft, mischief and arson.
Similarly, 150 others were arrested and being prosecuted for violating the curfew enforced by the Kano State Government during the protests.
In the same vein, six suspects linked with masterminding the destruction, setting ablaze and looting of the Kano Printing Press (KPP) were arrested and undergoing investigation.
He added that the Command also arrested 76 suspects flying Russian flags, including a foreigner, who have been transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for discreet investigation on charges of sedition.
“Forty one suspects were arrested for other major crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, car theft, while two (2) AK-47 guns were recovered as exhibits,” CP Dogo said.
The Kano Police chief added that substantial properties looted by the hoodlums at Audu Bako Secretariat, NCC Office, High Court Complexes, Kano Printing Press (KPP) and supermarkets were also recovered.
