Katsina residents groan over increasing rate of crimes

Residents of Katsina metropolis and environs have expressed concern over increasing rate of crimes across the state. Kano Chronicle gathered that crimes are being recorded daily with many people living in fear and apprehension. In the last one week, two high profile assassinations, kidnapping, car theft as well as frequent car battery and tire thefts […]

Residents of Katsina metropolis and environs have expressed concern over increasing rate of crimes across the state.

Kano Chronicle gathered that crimes are being recorded daily with many people living in fear and apprehension.

In the last one week, two high profile assassinations, kidnapping, car theft as well as frequent car battery and tire thefts have made people sleep with their eyes open and hang out less for fear of attack.

The week can be termed a bloody week in the state. In one of the incidents, a police Corporal Ibrahim Surajo, attached to central police division In Katsina, was shot dead by some gun men and his rifle whisked away in lobby of a supermarket.

Many took to their heels as a result of the attack thereby sustaining minor injuries as they run for safety. Surajo alongside his colleagues were on duty at a stop and search point along Katsina-Kano road at about 8.30pm when the incident happened.

The gunmen, in a black Golf Volkswagen car, trailed Surajo who was carrying an AK 47 rifle. Immediately Surajo stepped into the supermarket to charge his GSM handset, they shot him dead and took away the rifle.

Surajo’s killing was coming three months after a similar attacked at the residence of former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie where a police  sergeant, Musa Ibrahim was killed and his rifle taken away and one Corporal Shitu Maikudi was also injured during the attack.

On the same day another business man identified as Saminu Gaye was killed inside his shop immediately after Magrib prayers at Magama Jibia and the gunmen took away his possession.

The robbers were said to have called some contacts on the deceased phone claiming that they killed him for failing to provide N10m and eight others were also slated for such attack.

In another incident, a gang of armed robbers recently blocked Kano-Katsina road precisely at Kankia town and robbed many unsuspecting passengers and a motorist.

Later the gang entered the town and robbed a business man Alhaji Salisu Mai-Tiles before abducting his 14-year old girl, Khadija Salisu.

The abductors have demanded a ransom of N100m for her release.

Mai-tiles said the incident was a horrifying experience to him and members of his family as the armed robbers entered his house at about 1:30 am on the fateful day.

“Three persons armed with guns gained access into my house, while others stayed outside. They asked me to give them money, which I did. We never objected to their demands to save our lives. Unfortunately they went away with my 14-year-old daughter,” he said.

Some residents, who spoke to Kano Chronicle lamented that increasing rate of crimes in the state was alarming and called for urgent actions to address the situation.

Dr. Abdulrashid Lawal, a university don whose Honda Civic car was stolen last week, described the situation as unfortunate and called for measures to restore sanity and order in the state.

Car battery theft has also caused serious misgivings and ill feelings amongst civil servants at the state secretariat. Our reporter gathered that hardly a day goes by without having a report of battery theft which is making motorists apprehensive after parking their vehicles.

Disturbed by the trend, various mosques within the secretariat have embarked on sensitization of the motorists and the suspected thieves to fear God and change their attitudes.

An imam at the state ministry of health, Malam Hussaini Mohammed said already a team of concerned personnel had resolved to formally report the issue to the office of the secretary to the state government with a view to addressing the matter.

For Dahiru Dankaro, who was among the many who had their batteries stolen, said it was a horrifying and shocking experience.

He said, “I was busy kicking the car and it was silent, until I opened the bonnet and met an empty car battery space. Last month many car owners that parked in the premises of our office had their car batteries stolen. This is becoming a regular occurrence.”

On his part, Alhaji Lawal Saidu a resident of Sabuwar Unguwa, said the most disturbing crime in his area was local bandits popularly called ‘Kauraye’ who were seriously disturbing the community.

“Regularly you will see them brandishing weapons mostly knives and cutlasses in the open, they fight among themselves making our area not safe,” he lamented.

Commenting on the unfortunate development, the spokesman of Katsina Police Command, DSP Gambo Isah said new techniques were adopted by the Command to address the situation.

He said policemen were stationed at strategic places to provide adequate security across the state, stressing that border police post were also strengthened as police area commanders and divisional police officers were rejuvenated in the renewed task.

He said people must support the police with useful information that would help them in checkmating c rimes in the state.

“Policing a society is a responsibility of all. We must put our hands on deck to help especially with vital information. Police can’t work in isolation, we need the cooperation of all to achieve our objectives,” he concluded.