The Borno State Police Command has arrested 87 suspects for criminal activities involving terrorism, abductions, rape, and culpable homicide across the state.
Parading the suspects on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner, Abdu Umar disclosed that the suspects were arrested in the first half of 2022 in Maiduguri metropolis, Jere, Konduga, Gwoza, and Hauwul Councils. He said some of the suspects were in possession of dangerous weapons while committing most of the crimes, including cattle rustling and forgeries.
According to the CP, the Police arrested five suspected terrorists and recovered three gun trucks, three machine guns, and two AK-47 rifles with live ammunition.
He further added that the suspects are members of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
Umar noted that investigations are in progress, as the suspects are in the custody of the military.
While narrating how the suspects were arrested, the police chief said that after an exchange of gunfire between the security teams and terrorists with aerial support from a fighter jet, most of the terrorists were neutralized.
Umar also added that six suspects were arrested on May 30, 2022, for alleged kidnappings in Borno, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
On how they were arrested, he said, “The police crack team stormed a Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) in Njimtilo area of Maiduguri,” stating that the arrested terrorists are leaders of kidnapping syndicates in the Northeast.
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According to him, some community leaders like Abubakar Ali of Njimtilo, have been compromising with cattle rustlers by harbouring criminals in the community.
He said that Abdul Isa, Bala Musa, Abdullahi Bukar, Garba Usman, and Jordi Garba were also arrested for kidnappings, cattle rustling, and receiving stolen property.
The CP further disclosed that all the suspects confessed to their alleged crimes, including theft of armoured cable.
Speaking on recoveries of rustled cattle and property, he said: “Efforts are being intensified towards reaching to where the cows were rustled.
“This is to enable the police to trace the owners, before going after the receivers of the remaining stolen cows.”
Besides the cattle rustlers, he added that three suspects were also arrested for criminal conspiracy, trespass, and impersonations while stating that an army camouflage uniform and a wooden pistol were also recovered from the suspects.
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