From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Building on the legacies of his predecessor, AIG Sani Habu (Now in charge of the Intelligence department at the Force Headquarters), Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samaila Shua’aibu Dikko, in one year of his stay in Kano, recorded the arrest of 2, 606 suspected criminals, involved in major crimes between February 19, 2021 and February 19, 2022.
Those arrested include two Boko Haram suspects, 264 armed robbery suspects, 140 kidnapping suspects, 12 human trafficking suspects, 88 suspected rapists, 34 suspects charged for culpable homicide, 12 suspects for running illegal rehabilitation centres, 89 suspected fraudsters, 33 suspected cattle rustlers, 179 suspected drug dealers, 93 motor vehicle thieves, 14 motorcycle thieves, 58 tricycle thieves, and 1, 576 thugs otherwise known as Yan-daba.
Briefing journalists on his one year scorecard at the Kano Police Command Officers’ Mess on Tuesday, CP Dikko who declared total war against thuggery and drug abuse in Kano, commended the state Governor, Dr. Abduulahi Umar Ganduje for his unrelenting support to the Command which has ensured adequate security of lives and property across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to him, ” when I assumed duty as the 42nd Commissioner of Police of Kano State on the 19th February 2021, there were security challenges. These include, threats of Kidnapping and Armed Robbery along our 17 front-line border Local Government Areas,
Thuggery (Daba) and drug abuse (Kwaya) within eight Local Government Areas of Kano Metropolis and reports of domestic violence in 19 Local Government Areas that are neither in the metropolis nor the border of the State.
“Having obtained briefs and guide from my predecessor, AIG Habu A. Sani, psc, and after having meeting with my Departmental Heads and Divisional Police Officers, the State was critically analyzed, carefully studied,
demographically crime-mapped and under the guidance of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman, psc(+), NPM, fdc, an action plan was designed to effectively police Kano State.
“The following anti-crime strategies were carefully designed and implemented within the period under review. They include: robust Community Policy Engagements, sustaining the Operation Puff Adder that is based on Rapid Response to Distress calls, intelligence-led Policing, visibility Policing, television, radio and Social Media Public Enlightenment Programs, adherence to the ethics of the Force, synergy with other Security Agencies.
“In line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Community Policing engagements were intensified. On arrival, I paid courtesy call on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR (Khadimul Islam), Our Royal fathers, the Emirs of the five Emirate councils and other security agencies in the State.
“I visited Area commands and Divisions and assessed the level of compliance by Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers on my directives and by extension, the directives of the Inspector General of Police on Community-based Policing.
“With Community Policing initiatives and engagements, the Command was supported by individuals, groups and organizations.”
The police boss listed some of the supports received through Community Policing Initiative to include donation of 21 vehicles, refurbishment of 28 vehicles, renovation of 11 buildings, while eight offices were furnished.
He added that the Public Relations Department of the Command was repositioned as it continued to perform its function, “a vibrant Social-Media section was strengthened. Radio, Television and Social Media Programs were conducted weekly to promote policing activities and sensitize members of the public on peace and peaceful coexistence.”
CP Dikko said, “Kano State Government under his Excellency, DR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR made remarkable contributions towards improving community policing on the command’s crime fighting efforts, with expansion of Digital Radio Communications and installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring platforms and logistics. He directed Local Government Chairmen through the Honourable Commissioner for Local Governments to buy Vehicles for their respected Divisions, and also directed MD KAROTA for refurbishing of Operational Vehicles of the Command.
He further stated that n line with the Inspector General of Police directives, mission and vision on Operation Puff Adder, the Command in continuation of it’s efforts to rid Kano State of all forms of crime and criminality arrested Two Thousand Six Hundred and Six (2,606) suspects for major crimes in one year, adding that police in Kano rescued 160 victims of illegal confinement, 40 kidnapping victims, nine human trafficking victims,two victims of solitary confinement.
He said police also recovered 73 Rifles, including one SMG, one AK-49, six AK-47, one type-06, four Pistols, 59 locally made Guns, one Pump action, two toys and 30 Rounds of Live Ammunition.
Other items recovered by the police include 129 Motor vehicles, 107 Tricycles, 64 Motorcycles, three bicycles, 52 Cattles, nine Sheep, 874 Knives, 93) clubs (Gora), six cutlasses, 1,042 packets of Tramadol valued N29,754,000.00, 14 Cartons of fake drugs valued 2, 400,000.00, 50 bags and 599 parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp valued N22,261,000.00 , four bags of codeine syrup, 74 packages of Red Solutions, 1,747 packets of Exol tablets valued N51,045,000.00, 75 catons of expired Diclofenac tabs, 483 pieces of suck and die, 3,085 packets of Diazapam tablets, 140 sachets of Rapanol tablets, 150 bottles of Codeine, 35 pieces of volume-5 tabs, 752 Mobile Phones, 22 ATM Cards, five Packet Air conditions, 1,718 Sim cards, 32 Jerry-cans of fuel PMS, four Improvised Hoax Explosive Device (IED), four Computer Laptops, two Solar panels, 114 Expired Mina-Mina sweet condensed Tin-milk, among others. According to him, “we have already set an action plan of the year 2022. The strategy in place is yielding positive results and will be maintained. The Command will continue to intensify Community Policing engagements and utilize various Community Policing structures for Public enlightenment and sensitization. Finally, I wish to appreciate the Government and the good people of Kano State, Sister security Agencies and our Community Policing stakeholders, including Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, The Media, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Civil Liberty Organizations (CLOs), Youth Organizations, Special Constables, Vigilante Groups, etc, for their prayers, support, encouragement and cooperation. We will continue to ensure that crime and criminality are checked and Kano State becomes a heaven of sort for law abiding citizens.”
