Eight suspects have been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and other related crimes in the state.
The police spokesman in the state, Abubakar Sadiq, who paraded the suspects before the Command Headquarters, Katsina on Wednesday, noted that the Command arrested 16-year-old Nuhu Haruna of Fenza village, in the Dutsinma Local Government Area (LGA), in connection with a suspected case of culpable homicide.
Haruna was arrested on October 21, 2024, at about 1300hrs, following a misunderstanding with 40-year-old Rabi Haruna of the same address, who happened to be his stepmother.
The suspect allegedly used a stick and hit the victim on her stomach, which eventually led to her death.
The suspect had during the investigation, confessed to the commission of the offence.
The Command has also arrested one Abubakar Nasiru, alias Haro, in connection with a suspected case of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.
The Command said the suspect, who was earlier convicted in a case of rape, was fingered in an ongoing investigation about a case of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping, hence his re-arrest.
In the course of an investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and further confessed to having received the sum of two million naira as his own share of the proceeds.
“The fact of the case is that sometime in the year 2023, the suspect criminally conspired with other suspects now at large and attacked Unguwar Maza village, Kafur LGA, and kidnapped three (3) victims. The sum of thirteen million naira was paid as ransom to secure the release of the victims.
“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and further confessed to having received two (2) million naira as his share of the proceeds.
“Efforts have been sustained to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds,” the police noted.
In a related development, the command succeeded in arresting one Ibrahim Isah, m, of Yana village, Charanchi LGA, in connection with a suspected case of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.
The suspect, initially, contacted the father of one Bello Sani, m who went missing at Doro village, Mani LGA of the state, via phone call, demanding the sum of one million naira as ransom to secure the release of the victim.
Upon receipt of the report, the State Police Commissioner, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, detailed the command’s anti-kidnapping Unit for discreet investigation, where the suspect was traced and arrested.
During the investigation, the suspect also confessed to the commission of the offence as investigation is ongoing.
“Also, on the 23rd of October 2024, the command, in collaboration with the Gombe state police command, successfully arrested Nasiru Sanusi, m., age 25, of Gidan Daudu village, Kankara LGA, in connection with a suspected case of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide.
“The suspect criminally conspired with three (3) others now at large and kidnapped his uncle, a ward head, and subsequently killed him after receiving eight million naira and six (6) bags of fertiliser as ransoms.
“The suspect confessed to having fled to Lagos, Taraba, and Gombe states, where he engaged in several criminal activities until his arrest in Gombe state.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence. Efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds.”