By Rabiu Doma, Nasarawa
No fewer than 171 suspected merchants of evil were arrested by the Nasarawa State Police command stated that State Police commissioner, Umar Shehu while given the breakdown of the success story of the command under his leadership.
Umar Shehu said the command arrested and prosecuted criminals in relation to capital offences. He stated that 171 suspects were arrested and prosecuted in 2013 showing an increase compared to 2012 where 78 suspects were apprehended for culpable homicide and prosecuted.
The commissioner stated that the command recorded a successful fight against crime and criminality – attributing the achievement in combating crime in the state to the proactive strategies adopted by the command.
The commissioner of police said the success story was due to the various strategies which he listed to include intelligence -propelled policing, community based policing, raiding of criminal hideouts, strategic nipping point deployment and vehicular patrols.
Umar Shehu said the command succeeded in arresting and prosecuting 180 armed robbers compared to 136 that were nabbed last year. Other breakthrough recorded also included the recovery of arms and ammunition. He stated that 13 AK 47 rifles were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where 5 AK 47 rifles were recovered.
He further stated that 2 sub-machine guns were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where no recoveries were made. He said 3 type of 06 rifles were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where 2 type 06 rifles were recovered.
The commissioner stated that 7 pump guns were recovered in 2013 compared to 1 pump action gun recovered in 2012. Other firearms recovered in 2013 according to him included 10 single barrel guns recovered in 2013 compared to 1 in 2012. 69 locally made pistols were recovered in 2013 against 31 recovered in 2012.
Other track record of the command, the commissioner listed included recovery of 1228 round of 7.62mm life ammunitions,15 round s of 5.62mm and 83 live cartridges were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where 291 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunitions and 9 rounds of 5.62mm and 31 live cartridges were recovered.
While briefing the press on the arrest and recovery of stolen vehicle/motorcycle, the commissioner said that 40 vehicle were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where 25 motorcycles were recovered.
On fraud related offences, the commissioner stated that 440 pieces of fake British Pound Sterling, in 5 Pound denomination were recovered in 2013 compared to 2012 where no such recovery was made. He added that N21,000.00 fake Nigeria currencies in one thousand Naira denomination were recovered compared to 2012 where no recovery was made.
Umar Shehu asserted that 185 cases bordering on fraud were prosecuted in 2013 compared to 2012 where 302 were prosecuted , 43 cases of unlawful society were recorded and recalcitrant prosecuted in 2013 compared to 2012 where only 9 persons were prosecuted.
41 cases of wanton disturbances were prosecuted in 2012 as against 220 persons inciting disturbances and disturbances of public peace were prosecuted in 2013,3 persons were apprehended in relation to unnatural offences ,while 45 cases of rape/Indecent Assault were prosecuted in 2013 compared to 2012 where 21 cases were treated by the command.
The level of crime and criminality between 2012 and 2013 revealed a drastic decrease in crime rate in the state. He said in year 2012 ,a total number of 323 cases were investigated and 307 suspects were prosecuted and convicted while 8 cases are still under investigation.
In 2013 according to the commissioner of police 234 cases were recorded out of which a total number of 92 cases were successfully investigated ,prosecuted and convicted while 130 cases are still awaiting trials as most of these cases are being handled by the Attorney General of the state.
