Zamfara Police Command records  breakthrough as over 250  banditry suspects arrested, 15 locally made guns recovers

Stanley Ihedigbo

Zamfara State Police Command under the leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf psc has continued to sustain it onslaught against the activities of criminal elements across the state.

The command arrested 8 suspects for banditry related offences, criminal conspiracy, robbery and fraud.

They recoverd 15 locally fabricated firearms, 146 rounds of AK 47 ammuniton, dried keafs suspected to be Indian helm and the Sum of N1 million cash as exhibits.

According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, the onslaught since it commencement had resulted in the unprecedented arrest of over 250  suspects for banditry related cases, as well as recovery of arms and ammunition ranging from AK 47, AK 49, Rocket lunchers, RPGs, GPMGs, Lar and other calibre of sophisticated rifles.

” This effort has helped tremendously in stabilizing the security of Zamfara which was hitherto worrisome and disturbing. Below are some of the recent achievements recorded by the Command,” he said.

Also the command’s Police Tactical operatives on confidence building patrol along Tsafe – Munhaye forest, acted on intelligence report and conducted a rigorous patrol/stop and search with view to arresting some gun runners who were on their way to Munhaye forest to supply arms and ammunition to the bandits.

“The gun runners on noticing Police presence, abandoned the sack containing the arms and ammunition and fled into the thick forest. The Police operatives while on spot search, recovered the above mentioned exhibits. Drag net has been sprayed to arrest the fleeing hoodlums,” he  stated.

“On 24th January 2023, Police detectives acted based on complain by one Abubakar Lawali ‘M’ of Talata Mafara LGA. That on same date, while at the Zenith Bank ATM Gallery Talata branch, the above mentioned suspects conspired and defrauded him the sum of N1 million  by withdrawing same from his account through a POS operator via his ATM Card.

“According to the complainant, the suspects succeeded in their action when they offered to help him to make withdrawal when he could not make the transactions due to network problem. They collected his ATM card and decietfully withdrew the money from POS operator. In the course of interrogation, all the suspects confessed to the crime and further stated how they carried out similar fraud at different banks in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara States respectively.

The sum of N1 million  cash belonging to the complainant and a suspected Honda Accord Anaconda Vehicle were recovered from them as exhibits. Discreet investigation is in progress with a view to arresting other members of their gang and charge them to court for prosecution.

“On 24th January, 2023 Police detectives acted on intelligence report and arrested the above mentioned suspects who were both residing in Bela village under Bungudu LGA. The suspects before their arrest were part of criminal syndicate that gave information to Bandits and also supplied all form of dried leaves suspected to be Indian helm and other dangerous drugs. Their actions have continued to aggrevate Attacks, Kidnapping and killing of innocent people of Bungudu, Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji LGAs by the bandits.

“On 23rd January, 2023, Police Operatives based on intelligence report arrested the above mentioned suspect. The suspect has been a member of criminal syndicate that have been operating in Kaduna, Zamfara and other Neighbouring states.

“In the course of Police investigation, the suspect confessed that, on several occasions, he and other members of their gang participated in the Kidnapping of unspecified number of people and collected millions of Naira as ransom from the relations of the victims. He also confessed to have rustled unspecified number of cows and sheep. Suspect will be charged to Court for prosecution as soon as investigation is completed,” the PPRO further stated.

“On 22nd January, 2023, Police detectives acted on a complaint from the one Kasimu Abdullahi ‘m’ of of Anka arrested the above mentioned suspect for criminal conspiracy and attempted Culpable Homicide against the compainant. While investigation was ongoing, the suspect was equally identified by the family members of late Abdullahi Nakwada for allegedly killing their father sometime in 2022. The ongoing investigation revealed that the suspect was among the members of the outlawed group known as “Yansakai” who have been taking laws into their hands by intercepting and killing people and sometime rustling their animals on suspicion of being criminals without informing the police or any constituted authority. Effort being intensified to arrest his gang members and charge them to court for prosecution,” he added.