The Kano State Police Command has arrested four suspected bandits and successfully foiled their plans to acquire an AK-47 rifle. The police said the suspects, who were attempting to buy the powerful weapon, were apprehended based on credible intelligence provided by well-placed sources.
The police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, made the announcement while addressing the press at the Kano Police Headquarters in Bompai. According to Kiyawa, the suspects were arrested on 6th March 2025, at around 2:00 PM, at Chula Filling Station in the Hotoro Quarters of Kano. The arrest was part of a wider strategy by the Kano State Police to combat banditry and organised crime across the region.
The four individuals arrested are Shukurana Salihu (25), Rabi’u Dahiru (35), Ya’u Idris (30), all from Katsina State, and Muktar Sani (30), a resident of Yandodo Hotoro Quarters, Kano. The police had been monitoring their activities for some time before making the move, which prevented them from carrying out their plans.
Upon their arrest, a detailed search was conducted, leading to the discovery of a large number of dangerous weapons and materials, which could have been used to carry out criminal activities. Among the items seized were:
- Three locally-made revolver pistols
- Twelve live rounds of ammunition of various calibres
- Three cartridges
- Two cutlasses
- Four knives
- Twenty-four pieces of ball bearings
- A cash sum of ₦1,028,800
- Suspected charms
This haul not only highlights the dangerous intentions of the suspects but also underscores the ongoing efforts of the police to prevent the proliferation of illegal weapons in the state.
Following their arrest, the four suspects were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kano State Police Command for further questioning. Police authorities say the investigation is still ongoing, and once completed, the suspects will be charged in court for various offences, including attempted illegal arms dealing, possession of prohibited firearms, and being part of a criminal syndicate.
SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, in his address, stressed the importance of intelligence gathering in making the arrest and disrupting the criminals’ plans. He said, “The successful apprehension of these suspects is a clear indication that our efforts to combat banditry and organised crime in Kano are yielding positive results. The information we received from well-placed sources proved to be invaluable in preventing a potential disaster.”
The police spokesperson further urged the public to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by providing information about suspicious activities in their communities. “The fight against crime is not a one-person task. It requires the cooperation of all citizens. We encourage people to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to the police.”
The arrest comes at a time when the northern part of Nigeria, including Kano, has been grappling with rising levels of banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of organised crime. These criminal groups, often heavily armed, have terrorised several communities, particularly in the North-Western states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kano.
