Police Arrest 2,077 Suspects, Rescue 171 Victims In Bauchi

The commissioner of police, Bauchi State Police Command, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed has said that within 12 months of his stewardship, the command has arrested 2,077 suspects in connection with various crimes committed within and outside the state.

Consequently, from 6th July 2023 to date, the command recorded a total of 1,148 cases and arrested a total of 2,077 persons.

The commissioner, while displaying his scorecard from 6 July 2023 to date in Bauchi yesterday, explained that 806 cases were recorded and 1,365 suspects were arrested in connection with the cases in the year 2023, while 342 cases were recorded and 12 712 suspects were arrested in connection with the cases in 2024, as well as rescuing 171 victims from kidnappers.

A statement signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, gave items recovered from operations as 37 AK47 rifles, 16 fabricated AK 47 rifles, 317 live ammunition calibre of AK-47 riffles, 250 Dane guns, eight vehicles, 483 cow/sheep rustled.

Wakil said, “The operation was carried out in various locations, including Mansur/Magama, Yankari forest, Lere, Masussuka and Gamji, all in Alkaleri and Ningi local government areas, which have been bedevilled by the activities of kidnappers and armed bandits in response to the command to pacify the affected location from the activities of criminals aggressively.”

“Consequently, the following calibre of weapons were recovered during the operation: 377 rounds of 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition, 65 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, 4 AK47 riffles, 20 fabricated and cut-to-size guns, One Sterling Mk4 SMG riffle, and 9 Empty magazines.”

Ahmed Mohammed Wakil emphasised that the successes were made possible through information availed to the police from members of the public, who, as partners in progress with the Nigeria Police, share their desires and aspirations to enable a safe and secure environment for all residents in the state.

He also stated that the command has put in place preventive crime measures, which included visibility policing, community partnership, constant raids of black spots, regular foot and vehicular patrols, surveillance on buildings and vulnerable areas, stop and search, and intelligence-led policing through partnership with sisters security agencies and other non-governmental organisations to nip in the bud, all forms of crime/criminals and their hideouts in the state.

Commissioner Musa Auwal recalled that Bauchi is one of the states in the North East geopolitical zones confronted with numerous security challenges such as kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling, thugs and thuggery, rape and other manifestation of violent crimes.

“The location of Lame Burra Forest in Ningi L.G.A, Balmo Forest in Ganjuwa L.G.A, Yuda and Mundu Forest in Toro L.G.A, Dajin Madam and Yankari Forest in Alkaleri L.G.A provided a cover for criminal elements who perpetrates heinous crimes. Subsequently, on the assumption of duty on the 6th of July, 2023, as the 45th commissioner of police, Bauchi State Command has put in place proactive measures through robust synergy with relevant stakeholders and other security and quasi-security agencies, vigilante groups, religious/traditional institutions and youths. The state is gradually enjoying relative peace.”

He further explained that in the fight against all forms of crimes and criminality in Bauchi State, with the sustained operations of community policing engagements and other crime-fighting strategies, the command has vigorously continued to execute its mandate and made remarkable achievements in policing the state.