By Martha Nuhu
The Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Mr Peter Babatunde, says the Command has arrested more than 50 armed robbery and culpable homicide suspects in the state from May to date.
Babatunde disclosed this at a news conference in Jos on Thursday.
He said that the command has employed different strategies and measures to stem criminal tide across the state.
“It gladdens my heart to say that from May 2017 to date over 50 armed robbery and culpable homicide suspects have been arrested and put in custody.
“The command in recent times carried out some operations in line with the new challenges in Plateau State and in pursuance with its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property.
“We have employed different strategies and measures to curtail the serious criminal incidences being faced by in the state.
“I am happy to inform you that we have succeeded in almost all the difficult challenges we have been confronted with, most especially within the Jos metropolis,” he said.
Babatunde listed some of the successful arrests to include three notorious car snatchers, robbery suspects, homicide suspects as well as defilement and rape suspects.
“Among those arrested are a three-man gang that specialised in car snatching. They were arrested on May 16 at Bukuru with four cars and a pistol recovered from them.
“One Bulus Dewan of Barkin Ladi, who is suspected to have stabbed one Garba Dapan of Fan District, is also arrested and is in custody, and the case has since been transferred to the State CIID for discreet investigation.
“A rape suspect, Ali Usman, 35, of Angwan Rogo, is also in police custody for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl.
“Other rape suspects, who are in our custody, include one Sati Usman and Shafiu Samaila, all of Jos North, who were alleged to have raped minors aged three and five in their neighbourhood,’’ he said.
The commissioner also stated that nine officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were issued with letters of commendation and cash rewards for smashing a gang of car snatching syndicate.
He assured that the war on criminal activities in the state would be sustained with renewed vigour and determination despite the logistics challenges facing the command.
