Katsina Mourns Courageous Police Officer, ACP Umar
EMERGENCY DIGEST- Until his death on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Aminu Umar, was a source of hope to the millions of residents of six local government areas in Katsina State being tormented by the activities of bandits.
In the last few years, bandits have subjected the people in the area to attacks resulting in kidnapping, rape, cattle rustling and pillaging of their crops.
ACP Aminu Umar was the Area Commander in Dutsin-Ma, whose duty was to ensure the safety of the citizens and in this he gave a good account of himself. In fact, he lost his life in the line of duty.
According to a statement by the Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Police, Umar along with one other officer, lost their lives when they were ambushed by bandits.
Umar was said to have mobilised his men and some members of the vigilante group in the area after receiving information that more than 300 bandits were seen moving to attack some villages.
The incident happened in Zakka forest in Safana Local Government Area.
The Commissioner of Police, Idrisu Dabban Dauda, expressed “his deep sympathy to the family of the deceased and prayed the Almighty Allah to repose their souls,’’ the statement added.
A resident of Dutsin-Ma who was privy to the incident said a combined team of police and vigilantes was involved in the operation in which the two officers paid the supreme price.
“Our vigilantes here told us about a combined team of police and vigilantes heading to Yauni village to face bandits.
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“Later we heard that there was a fatal clash and some police officers and some vigilantes were shot by the bandits.
“About seven military vehicles provided reinforcement and we later saw some police vehicles carrying some bodies that I could not identify because I was not close to them,” a resident told newsmen.
Since his death was confirmed, it has been a subject of discussion among groups in the area. Many residents revealed that the death ACP Umar was a big loss to the fight against banditry. They said he contributed immensely to the fight with successes recorded.
They said he was seen by many as a hero and brave officer and loved for his selfless service.
According to Yandakan Katsina, District Head of Dutsin-Ma, Alhaji Sada Muhammad Sada, the late ACP Umar was a courageous and heroic officer who was committed to his duty.
“There is nothing we could say more than to pray to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and admit him into paradise.
“He was a kind man, brave and very committed to his duties. Whenever and from wherever he receives a distress call, he would mobilise his men and respond quickly to such calls. We really lost a courageous police officer,” he said.
Also, the Galadiman Katsina, the District Head of Malumfashi, Justice Sadik Abdullahi Mahuta, described the death of ACP Umar as a great loss not only to Katsina State, but to the country.
“He was a very well-known gallant officer and his death was not only a loss to our state but to the whole of the country, because he died in the course of his duty to make sure that we live in peace.
“We mourn his death and we pray to Almighty Allah to rest his soul in peace,” he said.
