The Katsina State Police Command apprehended Umar Hassan, a 13-year-old teenager, and three other suspects, Lawai Umaru, 70, Ibrahim Lawai, 22, and Abdulganiyu Isah, 22, for supplying information to terrorists.
Briefing reporters at the command headquarters on Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer ASP Abubakar Sadiq said the informants’ actions resulted in multiple attacks on villages and unsuspecting members of the public, including cattle rustling and kidnapping in the state.
“On July 3, 2024, at about 08:00 hrs, the command, in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) attached to Dansoda village, Dandume LGA, Katsina State, succeeded in arresting one Umar Hassan, m., age 13, residing at Sheikh Abdullahi quarters of Dandume town, Dandume LGA, in connection with a suspected case of aiding and abetting armed banditry.
“The suspect was arrested following the receipt of intelligence on his nefarious activities, where he specialises in providing information on villages and potential targets to suspected armed bandits.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and further mentioned one Abba, now at large, as his accomplice.
“He further confessed to being part of the gang that attacked Unguwar Bawa village several times, where they kidnapped and rustled animals. The investigation is still ongoing,” ASP Sadiq said.
Based on credible intelligence on their activities, the trio of Lawai Umaru, Ibrahim Lawai, and Abdulganiyu Isah, all of Babbar Ruga village, Batagarawa LGA of Katsina State, were arrested by the police for providing sensitive information to a suspected notorious terrorists’ leader, Mustafa Dan Gambo, now at large.
The suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation, and the inquiry is still underway, according to Sadiq.
Similarly, the Command stated that it had arrested Musaddik Abdullahi of Kofar Kaura quarters, Katsina, Katsina State, a member of a known kidnapping for ransom syndicate.
According to the Police PRO, the suspect was apprehended after receiving a complaint letter regarding the disappearance of one Isiya Lawal of Sabuwar Unguwa quarters, Katsina.
“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, endorsed and detailed the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) for discreet investigation.
“Promptly, the OC AKU led a team of detectives and swung into action, where they successfully traced and arrested the suspect suspected to be in connection with the disappearance of the victim.
“During the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to being part of a four-man kidnapping syndicate that kidnapped the victim, demanded a sum of six hundred thousand naira (₦600,000.00k) as ransom, and subsequently killed the victim. The investigation is still ongoing,” Sadiq added.
