Urban gangsterism: Security operatives nab 98 hoodlums in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

In a renewed fight against urban gangsters and criminals popularly known as ‘SaraSuka’ in Kaduna Metropolis, Security operatives have arrested 98 hoodlums who were alleged to have snatched phones of innocent persons and caused confusion in the communities.

Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna state, stated this in a statement yesterday.

The statement stated that worried by the increased in the activities of the gang, Governor Nasir El-Rufai demanded for an aggressive action against the criminals, and has received a progress report from the Kaduna State Police Command.

Aruwan said the criminals have been attacking citizens and snatching their mobile phones and other belongings, a situation which resulted in the loss of several lives and severe injuries inflicted on innocent citizens.

According to the report, which was accompanied with pictorial evidence, a total of 98 suspects were arrested between the 26th and 28th of April, 2023, of which 19 have been charged to court, while 61 are still under investigation at various Divisions within the Kaduna Metropolis. Eighteen (18) of those arrested have been transferred to the State Criminal

Investigation Department for further investigation ahead of the prosecution.

The report further revealed that several exhibits were recovered from the suspects, which included: mobile phones, sharp knives, sharp scissors, cudgels, dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, assorted hard drugs and accessories to aid their consumption, master keys and other valuables.

The Governor tasked the Command to ensure due diligence in prosecution without compromise, and directed that the manhunt for those at large should be intensified until they are all brought to justice.

He also condoled families that lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He further allayed their fears of any possible compromise of the cases, stating that the Kaduna State Government has an effective mechanism in place through the Ministry of Justice to ensure a thorough and scrupulous process.

“Finally, the Governor called on members of communities such as Rigasa, Kawo, Ungwan Muazu, Badarawa, Kwaru, Rigachikun, Barnawa, Ungwan Rimi, Trikania, Nasarawa, Makera, Sabon Tasha, Narayi, Rafin Guza, Tudun Wada and other locations, to provide the names of suspected gang members in their localities for follow-up action by security agencies.”

Again, many villagers abducted by bandits in Niger communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Bandits have again attacked many communities leading to the abduction of unidentified number of people while several others were injured in Paikoro local government area of Niger state.

The incident occurred at about 2pm after Friday prayer, and Saturday morning when unidentified gunmen suddenly attacked the villages of Essan,

Koitapi, Wuda, Loitapi among other localities in the area.

Reports revealed that the bandits who operated for several hours without interference, carted away cattle, motor cycles, cash, destroyed houses in the affected communities rendering them homeless while others scampered into the bush.

It was gathered that the armed men started shooting sporadically to scare the villagers at any village they arrived, and that the villagers were helpless due to lack of existing security agencies in the entire affected communities.

The Coordinator, Kaffin Koro Axis Concerned Youth, Maikarfi Sabastine has appealed to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and security agencies to urgently come to the aid of the affected communities in order to reduce the hardship currently being experienced

It could be recalled that some aggrieved youths in the