The Katsina State Police Command said on Sunday that it was impressed with the response it was receiving from residents over its request for information on two bandits kingpins, namely Modi Modi and Jan Kare.

Its spokesman, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, told PUNCH  that residents had been turning credible information on the two bandits kingpins since the command made public the special bulletin on Saturday.

He added that the command, however, had to sieve through the information with a view to determining the aspect that would lead to the arrest of the bandits.

The command spokesman implored people to keep on sending more information to the command.

Aliyu said, “We have been receiving an avalanche of information from the people on the two bandits kingpins and even criminals generally in the state since our bulletin was out.

“The command is very appreciative of the people’s response. But, you know, we must sieve through the information to bring out the one that will lead to the arrest of the bandits kingpins. We are encouraged by peoples’ response and the command will implore them to keep on sending information not only on the two bandits kingpins but on criminals generally in the state so that the state would be rid of the criminals.”

The command’s spokesman also disclosed that normalcy had returned to the Wurna community which its residents barricaded Katsina/ Dutsinma highway on Friday in protest against incessant bandits attacks on their community.

The PUNCH reports that the  Katsina State Police Command on Saturday night placed a N50,000,000 bounty on two wanted bandits kingpins, Modi Modi and  Jan Kare.

A special bulletin issued on Saturday night by the command’s spokesman, Aliyu, revealed that the wanted bandits were operating within Kankara and Safana Local Government Areas of the state.

The bulletin  was titled “Public Notice: Fifty million naira ( N50,000,000.00) Reward for  Information leading to arrest of banditry kingpins.”

It read, “The Katsina State Police Command wishes to announce a substantial reward of fifty million naira (N50,000,000:00) to any individual who provides valuable information that will lead to the arrest of two (2) bandits’ kingpins popularly known as (1) Modi Modi, m, and (2) Jan Kare, m, operating within Katsina State, particularly in the regions of Kankara and Safana Local Government Areas.

“ The safety and well-being of the residents of the state are of paramount importance, and the Katsina State Government and Katsina State Police Command, as well as other sister security agencies in the state, are committed to taking decisive action against criminal elements that threaten the peace and stability of the inhabitants of the state.

“This reward serves as a testament to our dedication to ensuring justice prevails, as the issue of security is a collective responsibility.

“This initiative aims to enhance security operations in our dear State and combat the activities of these criminal elements. “

The police command also promised to protect the identity of whoever supplied the information leading to the arrest of the wanted bandits.

The bulletin added, “The identity of the informant and the information provided will be kept strictly confidential to ensure their safety and protection.

“Therefore, all concerned citizens are encouraged to come forward with any relevant details that could assist the security agencies in apprehending the masterminds behind these heinous crimes of kidnapping and banditry. Together, we can make our State safer for all residents.”

The PUNCH recalls that bandits recently renewed attacks on communities in Katsina State, a situation that led residents of  Wurna in Kurfi Local Government Area on Friday morning to block Katsina/Dutsinma highway in protest against the attacks.