The Kano State Police Command has announced the transfer of the 76 suspects arrested for flying Russian flags, including a foreigner, to Force Headquarters in Abuja for an in-depth investigation into the act, which is considered to be an act of sedition.
Salman Garba, the Commissioner of Police in the state, announced the latest development on Monday while giving an update on the number of persons arrested concerning the criminal activities carried out during the nationwide hunger protest.
While addressing the press conference in Kano on Monday, the police Commissioner stated that the conference was an avenue to provide clear information about the activities that took place during the protest in the state. He explained that the activities led to the destruction and looting of public and private properties in the state. He claimed that some hoodlums in the state carried out the activities.
He further explained that the press conference would provide an opportunity to give details about the success recorded by the police in the state in preventing crimes during the protest that was hijacked by criminals in the state.
The commissioner of police provided statistics for the number of arrests. He stated that a total of eight hundred seventy suspects were arrested during the exercise, and different exhibits were recovered; he explained that a large number of exhibits were recovered during the period.
According to him, a total of six hundred suspects were arrested during the period and prosecuted for different offences. Some of the offences include criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, riot, theft, mischief, and arson.
Another 150 suspects have been arrested and prosecuted for violating the enforced curfew ordered by the state government. In comparison, six suspects who are linked with the destruction, arson, and looting of the Kano Printing Press (KPP) are currently being investigated by the police.
A total of forty-one suspects were arrested by the police in the state for armed robbery, kidnapping, and car theft, among others. He added that others arrested include two human trafficking suspects, 23 suspected ‘Yan Daba’ (local gangs), one notorious drug dealer, and 13 individuals who have been trafficked in the state.
On recoveries, the police commissioner explained that the suspects were arrested with a total of two AK-47 rifles and a good number of properties looted by the hoodlums from the Audu Bako Secretariat, NCC Office, High Court Complexes, Kano Printing Press, and supermarkets around the state.
He stated that the command had a few challenges during the period but was resolute in preventing crimes and ensuring the safety of residents in the state during the tense period nationwide. He stated that the dedication had made the command officers record successes during the period.
Kano state was the worst hit state with violence during the protest that claimed several lives in the state; violence in the state started on the first day of the protest, when hoodlums vandalised the NCC park in the state, destroying several projects in the the yet-to-be-commisoned building. The handlooms disguised as protesters loot business premises, resulting in several losses for business owners.
