Police Arrest 225 Suspects, Rescue 17 Kidnap Victims in Katsina in One Month

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested 225 suspects and rescued 17 kidnapped victims in May 2026, recording major breakthroughs in its fight against kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Addressing journalists on Thursday in Katsina, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abubakar Sadiq said the results followed intelligence-driven operations, joint patrols and strengthened collaboration with other security agencies.

“These achievements reflect our proactive policing strategy and community engagement across crime hotspots,” Sadiq said.

Of the 225 suspects arrested, the Command listed seven suspected kidnappers, 10 armed robbers, one bandit, two informants and 21 drug peddlers. Others include 10 suspects linked to murder and culpable homicide, 36 involved in rape and sodomy, 13 social miscreants, and 130 arrested for various offences.

The Command said it handled 150 major criminal cases in May, with 109 already charged to court after investigations.

Police also recovered 466 suspected rustled animals, three vehicles, 22 motorcycles and four bags of vandalised span wire. Items seized include 20 laptops, two phones, one master key and one scanner allegedly used for criminal activity.

In anti-drug operations, operatives seized 141 Exol tablets, 190 sachets of Diazepam, 170 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 49 D5 tablets, 133 Pregabalin tablets and five packs of Dexamethasone. All exhibits remain in custody for prosecution, Sadiq said.

The 17 rescued kidnap victims have been medically examined, debriefed and reunited with their families.

To sustain the gains, the Command recently launched the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, a specialised outfit for rapid response and intelligence-led operations. Community policing and stakeholder engagements have also been intensified to boost trust and information sharing.

Sadiq credited the success to collaboration with sister security agencies and thanked Governor Dikko Radda and Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu for logistical and moral support.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information, warning criminals to quit or face the full weight of the law.