The Police Command has intercepted heavily armed bandits on a mission in the state to purchase AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.

The significant breakthrough, according to the PPRO, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, was part of efforts to curb the infiltration of banditry and related crimes in the state.

He said four men were arrested—three of them are from Katsina State, while their collaborator is from Kano. All of them have been successfully apprehended and are currently in detention at the Command’s cell.

“At about 2:00 p.m., a team of police detectives led by SP Ahmad Abdullahi, Officer-in-Charge of Jar Kuka Out-Post, Kano, apprehended four suspected bandits at Chula Filling Station, Hotoro Quarters, Kano.

“The suspects, namely Shukurana Salihu, 25 years old; Rabi’u Dahiru, 35 years old; Ya’u Idris, 30 years old—all from Katsina State—and Muktar Sani, 30 years old, of Yandodo Hotoro Quarters, Kano, were arrested based on credible intelligence that they were in Kano with the intent to purchase an AK-47 rifle.”

He added that upon a thorough search, the following items were recovered:

Three locally made revolver pistols, 12 live rounds of different calibers

Three cartridges, two cutlasses, four knives, 24, pieces of ball bearings, cash sum of one million, twenty-eight thousand, and eight hundred naira (N1,028,800).

Haruna Kiyawa said the suspects are currently undergoing a discreet investigation at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and will be charged to court for prosecution upon the completion of the investigation.

“This achievement is a testament to the Command’s commitment to tackling the infiltration of banditry in the state and other forms of criminality. We appreciate the support and cooperation of the public in our efforts to maintain law and order.”