Disarmament of bandits next in line — Masari

Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has said that disarmament of repentant bandits is the next in line in the on-going peace dialogue between the state and bandits.

Masari, in a statement by his Director General, Media and Publicity, Abdu Labaran said “the next phase of sustaining the peace in Katsina is the surrender of arms and ammunition by the bandits, to be followed by their rehabilitation and integration”.

According to the statement, Masari, who spoke while receiving the last batch of 15 persons released by bandits operating around Jibia LGA axis said the disarmament program is to be carried out alongside Governors of Maradi (Niger Republic) and Zamfara State.

“The last phase would involve further provision of amenities like schools, clinics, roads, water points for human and animal use as well as re-demarcation of cattle routes encroached by farmers and converted into farm land.

“Added to these measures would be regular engagements between officials of Katsina and Zamfara states with their counterparts from Maradi Region of the neighbouring Niger Republic, one of which is expected to take place at the end of the week on Katsina State, Governor Masari added”. Police have recovered a sword, two daggers, house breaking implements, two phones, a POS machine and an ATM card from one Chizoba Okeke, 30, around Festac area of Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Bala Elkana and made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Elkana said that the Festac Police Station on Thursday received a distress call from a filling station at 2nd Rainbow, Festac, that an armed robber was sighted along the area. He said that Anti Robbery Patrol team was promptly drafted to the location and the suspect was arrested.

“Investigation is on-going to ascertain where and how he got the military uniform he operates with and to also identify other members of his gang.

“It is not yet established whether he belongs to the gang of dismissed soldiers arrested some weeks ago. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded,” he said.

In the same development, patrol team from Bariga Division has saved two persons, Abiodun Balogun, 32, and a lady Odisha Ginika, 21, from dying from gas poisoning. Elkana said that the patrol team noticed the occupants laying down unconscious on the driver and passenger seats of a black Hyundai vehicle parked along Shobande Street, Akoka.

He said that they were rushed to hospital for medical attention while the vehicle was removed from the scene for inspection.

“They were resuscitated by the medical team on duty and later discharged from the hospital.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the man is an Uber driver while the lady is his passenger.

“They became unconscious as a result of a poisonous chemical gas they inhaled due to leakage from the air conditioning system,” the DSP said. (NAN)