Sokoto State Police Command has announced the arrest of 575 suspects for various crimes and the recovery of 142 items including weapons in 2024.

This was contained in a statement yesterday in Sokoto by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Musa.

Musa said the suspects comprise those involved in culpable homicide, rape, vandalism, drug abuse, theft, fraud, rustling and robbery.

According to him, the 142 items recovered include a General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, with six rounds of live ammunition, nine AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and 341 rounds of live ammunition.

“Today, I can confidently say that we have made significant progress in reducing these crimes to the barest minimum.

“We have implemented innovative strategies to address emerging security challenges, strengthened community partnerships and enhanced the welfare and training of our officers..

“These achievements were guided by intelligence-led policing, community engagement, increased visibility and adherence to police ethics.

“We also worked in synergy with other security agencies while upholding the rule of law,” he added.

He commended the state government for donating 34 Toyota Hilux vehicles and other support to the command for effective operations.

“We also received one Toyota Hilux and five Hunter motorcycles from the Force Headquarters in Abuja. These have been deployed to areas of need, enhancing the command’s operational capabilities,” Musa said.

He reiterated the commitment of the command to continue to ensure safety and security in the state. (NAN)

The Association of Six Geopolitical Zones has lauded Dr. Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, for his achievements in combating insecurity and pledged support for his efforts to create a safer and brighter future for the country in 2025.

In a New Year message delivered by the group’s spokesperson, Chigozie Emanuel Oyerimba, the association praised Matawalle’s success in tackling criminal activities, particularly in the fight against kidnappers and terrorists.

“We have seen what you achieved in 2024, especially in flushing out key criminal elements like Alhaji Halilu Sububu and thousands of others,” the statement read.

“This year, 2025, promises to be even bigger and more impactful under your leadership.”

The association credited Matawalle’s proactive approach to security for putting Nigeria on the path to becoming an insecurity-free nation.

It highlighted his commitment to fostering safety, including efforts to enable farmers to return to their fields and ensuring Nigerians can sleep peacefully at night.

“Your continuous support for the youth and your dedication to creating a secure environment for all Nigerians are commendable,” the group added.

Matawalle’s leadership was also acknowledged for fostering collaboration between security agencies and local communities, which the group said has significantly restored peace to previously troubled regions.

“Appointing you as the Minister of State for Defence was not a mistake. You deserve this position, and your track record proves it,” Oyerimba noted.

The association urged Nigerians to rally behind Matawalle’s initiatives, emphasizing the importance of collective action in achieving national security and prosperity.

Dr. Bello Matawalle, a former governor, has received widespread praise for his strategies to combat terrorism, banditry, and other threats, focusing on inter-agency cooperation and addressing the root causes of violence.

The association expressed optimism that his leadership would lead to further security improvements in the year ahead.

Some stakeholders in the mining sector have commended the federal government for reversing the five-year ban on mineral exploration activities in Zamfara State.

The stakeholders made the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, recently announced the reversal of the ban on mining exploration in Zamfara, citing significant improvement of the security situation in the state. 

NAN recalls that the federal government banned all forms of mining exploration in Zamfara in 2019, following alarming reports of banditry and its link to illegal mining.

National President, Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, Mr Dele Ayankele, thanked the minister for the move, explaining that the ban deprived government of accruable revenues.

Ayankele stated that insecurity and banditry, which led to the ban, had also resulted in unnecessary budgetary allocations being wasted to maintain peace in the area.

“This is not to talk of unquantifiable losses to the mining lease holders in Zamfara, who might have lost their titles due to non-remittance of appropriate fees and levies as at when due.

“Also holders may have experienced inability to service loans and its attendant piling debts, rotten equipment, loss of manpower and social embarrassment due to inability to maintain their family obligations,“ he said.

He commended the minster for efforts leading to the ban reversal.

According to him, the effectiveness of the move will be determined by the measures put in place to sustain the security recorded in the state.

He acknowledged the determination of the minister to secure mining sites across the country, particularly through inter-ministerial collaborations.

“All these will be unveiled early in the coming year, as lease holders attempt to resume mining operations,“ he said.

Similarly,  Secretary of the Association of Miners and Processors of Barite, AMABOP, Patrick Odiegwu, described the reversal as a step in the right direction and a welcome development.

He stated that continous suspension of economic activities could lead to more insecurity, as residents of the affected areas might become idle and resort to unlawful means to sustain themselves.

According to Odiegwu, government should consolidate on the reversal by leveraging  technology to secure mining areas and beyond.

He explained that analog security measures may not be effective in addressing insecurity compared to a modern monitoring system that incorporates artificial intelligence.

“If we want to apply guns towards securing our environment, we will continue to have insecurity. If we apply technology, huge artificial intelligence, robotics, you don’t even need to lose one soldier.

“Government has the capacity to monitor every body in Nigeria, individually, if such system is available,“ he said.

He emphasised that proactive measures are necessary to keep bandits on the run and maintain the peace that had been established. NAN