Police in Gombe state record 39 cases of armed robbery in 2017 – CP

Gombe State Police Command, recorded 39 cases of armed robbery from January to June 2017 as against 42 in 2016, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Austin Iwar, has said.

Iwar, who made the disclosure on Tuesday in Gombe at a conference of senior police officers, said that eight cases of rape were recorded during the period as against 13 in 2016.

He said that 250 cases of theft were recorded during the first half of this year as against 256 in 2016, while five cases of kidnapping were reported as against 10 in 2016.

According to the police boss, like in 2016, only one case of communal clash was recorded in the state in 2017.

He pledged that the command would remain steadfast in the discharge of its responsibilities to ensure the security of lives and property of the residents.

Iwar said that 43 youths received training on skill acquisition under the Social Crime Prevention Programme organised by the command.

“All the beneficiaries did not only put to judicious use of the equipment they received after the training, they have also expanded their business.

“The beneficiaries have also imparted the skills they acquired to their apprentices”, he added.

The CP appealed to the state government to re-activate skills acquisition centres in the state to give the youths the opportunity to acquire vocational skill.

He urged royal fathers and residents of Billiri-Kaltungo-Shongom communities to adopt dialogue to resolve the annual communal crisis in the area.

“Dialogue is the only permanent solution to any conflict; men will come and go but land will remain permanent,” he said.