A 13-year old boy, Umar Hassan of Sheikh Abdullahi Quarters, Dandume, Katsina State is now in police net for allegedly being an informant to bandits.
The spokesman for the Katsina state police command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu confirmed the arrest in a statement made public on Friday .
According to him, the teenager was arrested on 3, July, 2024.
The command’s spokesman disclosed “The command has successfully arrested a 13-year-old teenager for providing vital information to suspected armed bandits, enabling them to launch attacks on villages and unsuspecting members of the public.
“On July 3, 2024, at about 3 a.m, 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 Sheik 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 specializes 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 offense 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.”
The Command also made similar arrests among who were alleged miscreants, fraudsters and a member of a” kidnap for ransome syndicate”.
ASP Aliyu added “The Command has succeeded in arresting one Musaddik Abdullahi, m, of Kofar Kaura quarters, Katsina, Katsina State, a member of a notorious kidnapping for ransom syndicate.
“Following the receipt of a complaint letter on the disappearance of one Isiya Lawal, m, of Sabuwar Unguwa quarters, Katsina, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, 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.
“On July 15, 2024, the command succeeded in arresting the duo of one (1) Abdulaziz Shehu, m, age 18 years old, of Shagari Low-cost quarters, Katsina, and one (2) Umar Lawal, m, age 21 years old, of Rahamawa quarters, Katsina, in connection with a suspected case of theft and fraud.
“The suspects specialize in swapping point-of-sale (POS) machines of unsuspecting members of the public with fake ones and fraudulently withdrawing money from their accounts. They were successfully arrested following the receipt of a complaint from one of their victims that a total sum of one hundred and thirty-three thousand naira (₦133,000.00k) was fraudulently withdrawn from his account by the suspects after they swapped his POS with a fake.
“In the course of the investigation, the duo were traced and arrested, as the sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand naira (₦125,000.00k), and two (2) POS machines were recovered from the suspects as exhibits. During the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
“In a sustained effort in the ongoing fight against the activities of social miscreants in the state, the command has succeeded in arresting a suspected notorious social miscreant for a string of violent attacks on some members of the public, resulting in various degrees of injuries and theft of valuables.
“The suspect, Abdulmumini Sanusi alias Ruse, m, age 21, of Gangara village, Batagarawa LGA, Katsina State, who specializes in attacking unsuspecting members of the public, thereby injuring and robbing them of their valuables, was arrested after an attack on his recent victim, who sustained grave injuries.
“During investigation, the suspect was linked to multiple incidents of assault, leaving several victims with severe injuries. In the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offense and will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
“In a significant breakthrough, the command has succeeded in arresting three (3) suspected informants of armed bandits.
“The trio of (1) Lawai Umaru, m, age 70 years old, (2) Ibrahim Lawai, m, age 22 years old, and (3) Abdulganiyu Isah, m, age 22 years old, all of Babbar Ruga village, Batagarawa LGA of Katsina State, were successfully arrested acting on credible intelligence on their activities of providing sensitive information to one Mustafa Dan Gambo, a suspected notorious bandits leader, now at large, who has been terrorizing Jibia LGA and its environs. This sensitive information enabled the gang to carry out a series of illicit activities, such as cattle rustling and kidnapping.
“During the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense. The investigation is ongoing.”