Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old man, Aliyu Sani, for allegedly impersonating a criminal and attempting to rob a yet-to-be-identified person with a toy pistol.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement he issued yesterday to journaliststs.
He said the incident occurred on 22nd August, 2026, at about 7:00 p.m., when the suspect was reportedly seen chasing an unidentified person while holding and pointing what appeared to be a pistol at the victim. The police said the suspect allegedly did so with the intention of dispossessing the victim of his belongings.
Following the report, police operatives, working with members of the local vigilante group, responded swiftly and arrested the suspect at about 8:00 p.m. at Kofar Sauri, Katsina. A search conducted on him led to the recovery of a black toy pistol, the police said.
The command said Sani was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation during preliminary interrogation on how he came into possession of the toy pistol. The suspect remains in police custody as the investigation into the incident continues.
The state commissioner of police, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the residents and members of the vigilante group for their cooperation.
He urged the residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station. The commissioner assured members of the public that the command would continue to work with the communities and other stakeholders to prevent and combat crime and criminality across the state.
