The Kano State Police Command has announced the arrest of 2,425 suspects and the rescue of 55 victims in its 2024 crime-fighting operations.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, during the end-of-year press briefing held at the Police Headquarters in Bompai, Kano.
Among those arrested were 189 suspected armed robbers, 34 suspected kidnappers, 18 human traffickers, and 1,987 suspected thugs. The rescued victims included 40 victims of human trafficking, 15 kidnap victims.
“These achievements were made possible through robust community policing engagements, intelligence-led operations, and synergy with sister security agencies,” CP Garba stated.
The command also made significant recoveries, including seven AK-47 rifles, 1,213 rounds of live ammunition, and 57 cutlasses. Stolen items such as 12 vehicles, 44 motorcycles, and 15 tricycles were recovered. A major success was the seizure of counterfeit currency amounting to ₦129.5 billion, alongside ₦48.9 million in cash. Illicit drugs, including cannabis, tramadol, and diazepam tablets, were also intercepted within the period under review.
The Police Commissioner highlighted that the year began with several security challenges, including threats of banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery in rural areas, as well as thuggery and drug abuse in urban centers of the State.
“At the beginning of the year, there were security challenges across the forty-four (44) LGAs of the State, including threat of infiltration of Bandits, Kidnapping and Armed Robbery along the villages in Seventeen (17) frontline border LGAs of the States bordering Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa and Bauchi States. Resurgence of thuggery (Daba) activities, Drugs Abuse and other violent crimes within the Eight (8) LGAs in Kano Metropolis, and also reports of farmers and herders clashes at nineteen (19) LGAs that are neither at the border, nor the metropolis,” the statement partly read.
In response, the command implemented a strategic action which focused on community policing, intelligence-led operations, and public sensitisation campaigns.
“By assessing the security situation, crime-mapping the state, and designing a tailored strategy, we were able to achieve a geometric reduction in the crime rate,” CP Garba said.
Looking ahead to 2025, the command planned to intensify community policing, conduct targeted operations, and enhance public awareness efforts. CP Garba expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government, civil society organiaations, and residents for their cooperation and support.
“With the stable and peaceful atmosphere now prevailing in the state, we assure the public that we will sustain the tempo in combating all forms of criminal activities,” he added.
Residents were reminded to report emergencies through the command’s hotlines or via the “NPF Rescue Me” mobile app.
