By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
The Bauchi State Police command has said that it recently rescued 49 people taken as hostages by kidnappers in various parts of the state
The state Commissioner of Police, Haliru Abubakar Gwandu also revealed that the command similarly arrested over 50 suspects involved in kidnapping and other related offenses
Gwandu made the disclosure Wednesday while parading the suspects before newsmen in Bauchi, saying 49 people taken hostages by the kidnappers were rescued by the police.
He explained that the suspects arrested are 35 suspected kidnappers, 12 armed robbery suspects, 5 cattle rustlers and one police impersonator, adding that 45 suspects have been charged to court while 23 others are under investigations.
Arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects are three Ak 47 rifles, one Ak 49 rifle, ten fabricated guns, six pistols, one toy pistol, 303 round of live ammunition of 7.62mm, six rounds of 7.5m live ammunition and seven cartridges.
Other exhibits recovered, he enumerated are 4 vehicles, 8 Bajaj Motorcycles, one Jincheng robber motorcycle, 171 cow, 133 sheep and goats, N176,770 cash, fabricated master keys, 11 handsets, police warrant card and complete set of police uniform.
Gwandu lamented that the state is confronted with numerous security challenges such as threat of insurgency, kidnaping, armed banditry, cattle rustling, rape as well as other manifestations of violent crimes.
He noted that the locations of Balmo Forest in Darazo LGA, Buzum Forest in Ganjuwa LG, Yuga Forest in Toro LG and Yankari Games Reserve in Alkaleri LG provides cover for criminal elements who perpetrate heinous crimes.
“Recently there has been upsurge in kidnappings of people in those areas for ransom after which suspects hide inside the above mentioned forests which make it difficult for the law enforcement agencies to apprehend them due to difficult terrain, poor communication network and scattered settlements”.
Commissioner Gwandu then assured members of the public of the command’s readiness to ensure safety and security in the state despite the challenges.
He said the command has also put in place crime prevention measures which are mainly proactive based on application of crime mapping considering different terrain and topography of the area.
These strategies, he outlined, include visibility policing, community partnership, constant raid of black spots, moping of arms and ammunition from vandals, bandits and political thugs.
Others are regular foot and vulnerable areas, stop and search duties, creation of pin down points, manning of KPs and VPs and guarding of critical infrastructures.
“The whole idea is to nip in the bud these emerging trends of crime presently bedeviling the state due to influx of suspected cattle rustlers, kidnappers and insurgents and other misguided elements as a result of on going military operations in neighboring North Western States,” Haruna said.
Gwandu further appealed to members of the public to always provide police information that will lead to arrest of criminals, assuring that the command will continue to hold stakeholders meetings to partner with members of the communities in order to promote safety and security in the state.
