The Katsina State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against crime with the arrest of a suspected drug dealer and three alleged members of a criminal gang accused of terrorizing residents of Funtua Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the operations were carried out following actionable intelligence gathered by officers in the state.
According to the statement, operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Funtua, arrested a 22-year-old suspect, Aliyu Umar, popularly known as “Makami,” on May 28, 2026, in the Jabiri area of the town.
Items recovered from the suspect included 38 Exol tablets, 28 wraps of substances suspected to be cannabis, and a sharp knife. The police described him as a suspected member of a drug distribution network operating within the area and said investigations are ongoing.
In another development, police operatives from Makera Division arrested three suspects believed to be members of a notorious gang linked to a series of criminal activities, including armed robbery, motorcycle theft, shop burglary, and mobile phone snatching.
The suspects were identified as Salim Umar, popularly known as “Dan Salim,” Yusuf Mustapha alias “Tatto,” and Gaddafi Idris, also known as “One Love.”
A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several items allegedly connected to their activities.
These included sharp weapons, mobile phones, ATM cards, SIM cards, torchlights, burglary tools, suspected charms, and cash amounting to ₦36,870.
The police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects may have been involved in the burglary of a shop located along Bishir Idris Road in Funtua, from where valuables and cash were reportedly stolen.
Investigators also linked the suspects to the theft of a Boxer motorcycle valued at approximately ₦1.1 million belonging to one Salisu Ibrahim.
The Command noted that the suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, praised the officers involved in the operations for their dedication and professionalism. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Command to tackling crime and maintaining peace across the state.
The police chief also appealed to residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist in preventing and combating criminal activities.
