– Nigeria’s police chief Mohammed Adamu has released a staggering number of crime-related deaths and abductions across the country in just four months.
– IGP Adamu says 1,071 people were killed in crime-related incidences while 685 were abducted by kidnappers – The northern part of the country, he said, was the highest hit with 71.62 per cent and 79.8 percent of the national total of deaths and abductions The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has revealed that not fewer than 1,071 people have died in crime-related incidents across the country in the first four months of 2019. Daily Trust reports that the police chief said the northern part of the country is worst hit by the deaths and abductions. According to him, 767 of those killed, representing 71.62 percent of the national total, were from the north.
IGP Adamu released figures while speaking at the quarterly Northern Traditional Ruler’s Council Meeting which was held in Kaduna,. He added that statistics available also showed that not fewer than 685 persons were also kidnapped across the country within the same period between January and April, . He confirmed that insurgent and bandit attacks constituted the major reasons for the deaths in the northern part of the country with Zamfara having the highest number.
He said: “Most of the murder cases recorded in the northern geopolitical zones are linked with armed banditry and communal violence. “In relation to banditry, a total of 175 incidents were reported between January and April this year with Zamfara State recording the highest incident of 104, followed by Katsina State with 21 and Sokoto State with 19 cases.”
On kidnapping, the IG said most of the abductions in the country, 546 or 79.8 percent of the national total, occurred in the north as well. He said: “It is pertinent to mention that Zamfara State has the highest national kidnap rate of 281 victims in what has been directly linked to activities of armed bandits in the state. “This is followed by Kogi State with 65, Niger State 51 persons were kidnapped within the period.”
The IGP’s statistics did not please Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District. The outgoing senator described Nigeria as a sick country in a tweet on Wednesday, May 1.
He tweeted:
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that while the investigation is ongoing over the murder of Briton tourist, Faye Mooney, the police have secured the release of three other persons kidnapped from Kajuru castle in Kaduna state.
Recall that while the three persons were kidnapped, Mooney and a Nigerian, Mathew Oguche, were killed when gunmen attacked the castle on April 19. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Kaduna Police Command, Yakubu Sabo, announced the release late Tuesday, April 30.
