Police Deploy 302  Mobile Police Officers, Police Special Forces And Counter Terrorism Unit To Tackle Bandits In Kaduna

Police have deployed 302 officers and men of Mobile Police, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Police Special Forces under Operation Puff Adder II to Kaduna to tackle bandits terrorizing the state.

The officers and men are to be drafted to the troubled areas of Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru local government areas, to help restore peace and order in the areas.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state, while flagging off the deployment of the troops at Mobile Police 1 Squadron in Kaduna, told the troops that the state was facing security challenges ranging from banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and armed robbery among others.

Governor el-Rufai, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, however, charged the troops to consolidate on the gains of Operation Puff Adder I by helping restore peace in the state.

El-Rufai, who appreciated the Nigerian Police authorities for their efforts towards the security of Kaduna state, especially their successful operations along Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria highways, promised that his government will do its best to support the troops to ensure their success.

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, CP Umar Muri, in his address, urged the troops to put a permanent end to the alarming increase in cases of criminalities in the state and to provide a conducive atmosphere for socio-economic activities that have been held down lately and apparently frustrating the well-designed policies of governments.

According to the CP, “It is a reality that in recent times, the state and the country at large have been grappling with all forms of banditry which include kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and other heinous crimes and same is heightened by the increasing proliferation of illegally acquired arms and other forms of weapons.

“The Inspector General of Police in this regard has instituted a framework which continually exposes our operations to specialized training that is designed to prepare them for the task ahead, being the lead security agency saddled with the responsibility of internal security of the state and the country at large. The sole aim of this Operation Puff Adder II is to reclaim the public space from criminals that are threatening our internal security order.”

According to the CP, though achievements have been recorded in the state from the combined efforts of state government, Police and other agencies, crime continues to present new trends which means police must continually re-evaluate its strategies and evolve operational architecture to sustain the gains recorded within the framework of intelligence-led Community Policing Initiative.

The CP assures that police will do all possible “to guarantee a stable security across the state, I must state that police cannot do it alone, no matter how well trained, equipped or motivated without the support of the community that we are engaged to serve. I wish to call for full support of the civil populace, youth associations, traditional rulers, market bodies, cultural associations, and religious leaders to put all hands on deck for the achievement of this all important task.

“To the Police officers and men deployed on this special operation, I charge you all to see your deployment as a call to national duty. You are therefore, required to ensure that justice is served in all your operations and to also ensure that you deal ruthlessly with criminal elements that may attempt to take the risk of testing your will or might while carrying out your legal assignment,” he said.