Police arrest 259 suspects over alleged banditry, kidnapping in Niger

The Niger state police command says it arrested 259 suspects for banditry, kidnapping, culpable homicide and rape in August.

Monday Kuryas, commissioner of police in the state, told NAN on Saturday that the crimes were committed in 25 LGAs.

He said out of the 259 suspects arrested, 119 have been charged, while 59 are still under investigation at the state criminal investigation bureau.

Kuryas said nine cases had been sent to the state’s ministry of justice for vetting and legal advice.

“We have charged 119 suspects out of the 259 arrested in court, 81 of them are still standing trial,’’ Kuryas said.

He explained that the command recovered three locally-made single barrel guns, one Dane gun, and two locally-made pistols with three live cartridges from the suspects.

Kuryas said the command had tackled banditry in Ma’undu village of Mariga LGA, which he says was a stronghold of bandits.

He said the area commanders and divisional police officers in the 25 LGAs had been directed to beef up security in their respective areas.

“We appeal for support and cooperation from members of the public who should give us intelligence information that could aid in apprehending miscreants in their midst,” he said.

“We are battle ready to confront any person or group of miscreants undermining the peaceful nature our state is known for through well coordinated security approaches to enhance peaceful coexistence among our people.”