Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested about 18 suspects for various offences related to banditry, drugs, and other substances.
According to the Zamfara State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu he said the operatives recovered two AK 47 rifles, two magazines, and 104 rounds of live ammunition.
He gave the names of the suspects as Murtala Dahiru, Sani Mohammed, Lawali Salisu, Bello Mohammed, Saying Mohammed, Aliyu Yahaya, Abubakar Idaho, Almustapha Dahiru, and Mohammed Sani Jibrin.
Recovered exhibits include a Large Quantity of Leaf Suspected to be Indian hemp.
He said, “On 5th December 2022, Police Tactical operatives while on confidence building patrol along Zurmi and Shinkafi LGAs received a distress call about bandits’ plan to attack some villages of the two LGAs.
“The Police operatives mobilized to the locations and engaged the bandits in a serious gun battle that lasted for hours. Luckily enough, the bandits were repelled by the superior firepower of the Police operatives, forcing them to retreat to the forest with possible gunshot wounds. Two AK 47 Rifles and 104 rounds of live ammunition belonging to the bandits were recovered at the scene.
Continuing, Shehu explained that on 7th December 2022 at about 1200 hours, Police Tactical operatives while on confidence acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of the above-mentioned suspects.
“The suspects were arrested while transporting a large quantity of dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp from Lagos to Shinkafi in Zamfara state. In the course of the investigation, the suspects confessed to several supplies of hard drugs and other substances to the bandits operating at Shinkafi and Zurmi axis. The discreet investigation is ongoing.
“On 8th December 2022 at about 1330hours, Police Tactical operatives while on stop and search, acted on credible information that led to the arrest of the above mentioned suspects.
“The Four suspects were arrested in an 18 seater Toyota vehicle conveying large quantity of dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp from Lagos and to be delivered to Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state. In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed that the consignment was meant for bandits operating in a forest under Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara state.
“Abubakar Idaho and Almustapha Dahiru were arrested by the Police Tactical operatives in connection with partnering with bandits to impose levies on Kwarya Tsugunne and Yanbuki villages in Maru and Zurmi LGAs respectively. The suspects during interrogation confessed to the Police that, on several occasions, they imposed levies on villagers that run into millions and delivered the same to bandits while getting their percentage. They further confessed that, recently they imposed and collected levy of one million, two hundred thousand naira from Kwarya Tsugunne village.
“While the Mohammed Sani Jibrin was arrested as being informant to bandits by divulging information about the operational activities of security agencies and vigilante at Kekun Waje village in Bungudu LGA. The suspect while undergoing interrogation confessed to the alleged criminality.
He further stated that discreet investigation is in progress, all the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution on completion of investigation.
