IGP Commends Katsina Police Over Anti-Banditry Successes, Urges Sustained Offensive

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has applauded the Katsina State Police Command for its recent breakthroughs in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, urging officers to sustain the pressure on criminal networks operating across the state.

The commendation was conveyed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration and Supervising DIG for the North-West, Sulaiman Muhammed, during a visit to the command headquarters in Katsina.

Addressing officers and men of the command, Muhammed said the police leadership had taken note of the remarkable progress recorded in recent months, describing the command as one of the forces driving ongoing efforts to restore security in the region.

He said the Inspector-General was pleased with the determination displayed by personnel in confronting armed groups and protecting communities from attacks.

According to him, the achievements recorded by the command have strengthened public confidence in the police and demonstrated the effectiveness of ongoing security operations.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Umar Ali Fage, briefed the visiting delegation on major operational successes achieved between March and June.

The police commissioner disclosed that operatives dismantled a notorious kidnapping ring linked to the abduction of an eight-year-old boy, leading to the arrest of six suspects. He added that N7.5 million, believed to be part of the ransom paid for the victim's release, was recovered during the operation.

In another operation, police officers successfully thwarted an attempted abduction at Kanya Village in Batsari Local Government Area, rescuing nine victims from their captors.

Fage further revealed that several operations carried out in Matazu and Kankia local government areas led to the arrest of suspected bandits and arms traffickers. Security personnel also recovered a cache of weapons, including seven AK-47 rifles, magazines and live ammunition.

Beyond the fight against banditry, the command recorded successes against other forms of criminality. Police operatives recovered dozens of stolen motorcycles, rescued hundreds of rustled livestock and seized thousands of suspected illicit drugs in separate raids across the state.

While acknowledging that security challenges remain in parts of Batsari, Jibia, Safana, Dan Musa, Kankara and Sabuwa local government areas, the commissioner said coordinated operations involving security agencies and local communities had significantly weakened criminal groups and disrupted their activities.

He reaffirmed the command's commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against bandits and other criminal elements, assuring residents that efforts would continue until peace and stability are fully restored.

The visit by the DIG formed part of the police leadership's ongoing assessment of security operations across the North-West, with a focus on strengthening strategies, encouraging personnel and enhancing the overall fight against crime in the region.