The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, cattle rustler and bandits’ informant linked to the deadly attack on Sayaya village in Matazu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday through the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He said the suspect, Surajo Isyaku, 45, was arrested on May 15 following credible intelligence gathered by police operatives.
Umar-Fage said the suspect allegedly participated in the April 5 attack on Sayaya village, during which armed bandits burnt several houses and killed a police officer attached to the Matazu Division.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was introduced in 2024 to a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Bello by another suspect, Babaye, who is currently at large.
He said the suspect confessed to involvement in multiple kidnapping operations and cattle rustling activities in the area, adding that ransom payments totalling N7 million were collected from victims.
The police commissioner further disclosed that the suspect allegedly received N900,000 as his share from kidnapping proceeds and also benefitted from cattle rustling operations in Dukawa village, where 14 cows were stolen.
He added that the suspect admitted to inviting the bandit gang to carry out attacks in the community on two occasions.
Umar-Fage said efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing gang members, including Bello, Babaye and other accomplices linked to the criminal network.
He commended operatives for the arrest and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against violent crime in the state.
