Zamfara state police command has arrested and paraded 10 persons who supplied arms, ammunition, food stuff, motorcycles and military uniforms to bandits in the foresrs.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Gusau on Saturday, the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu said they were arrested by the police Tactical Operatives during an intelligence led operations conducted in some criminal hideouts in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs respectively.
Shehu said, on September 12, 2022, some members of a notorious syndicate of the informants who collaborated with bandits to terrorize peace loving people of Gusau, Kaura-namoda, Tsafe and Bungudu local governments and environs were arrested.
The arrested criminals according to Shehu were; Abubakar Mainasara (aka Major), Babangida Mohammed (aka Soldier), Jamilu Kwalli (aka Talor), Lawali Ibrahim (aka Galadima and Sirajo Idris (aka Honourable).
He said, “The nefarious activities of this syndicate group were to give information to bandits to make it easier for them to attack communities and kidnap people for ransom”.
“It was equally part of their activities to collect millions of Naira to source for arms/ammunition and Military camouflage uniforms for the bandits”.
“Their recent dirty business was uncovered when one of the suspects, Abubakar Mainasara (aka Major) in his statement to the Police confessed of collecting the sum of NN850, 000 from the bandits to source for military camouflage uniforms for them”.
According to Shehu, the uniforms were given to Babangida, who connived with one of their collaborators, a tailor called Jamilu Lawali of Gusau town to source and sew the uniforms which at the end were delivered to the bandits.
“The same suspect further confessed of collecting the sum of N2 million from the bandits to supply arms and ammunition for them, even though, two of his accomplices Lawal Ibrahim and Surajo Idris confirmed to the police that the money given to the suspect was N6 million for the arms deal consignment and not N2 million”. Said Shehu.
Shehu further explained that the sum N1 million was given to same Babangida Soja who in turn gave only N60,000 to Jamilu Lawali Tailor for the supply of the ammunition who at the end supplied ten rounds of AK-47 live ammunition which was handed over to bandits through Babangida Soja and Abubakar Mainasara.
Another suspect, Zainu Lawal of Tsafe local government who claimed to be an ex-soldier was also arrested according to the PPRO.
Exhibits recovered from him according to Shehu included locally fabricated revolver gun, 4 Cartridge, fake military I D Card and one Set of camouflage uniform.
Shehu said, “On 14th September, 2022, Police Tactical Operatives from the Police Command headquarters acted on intelligence information about some suspected activities of the acclaimed ex soldier”.
“The suspect, who claimed to be an ex-soldier, was arrested being in possession of a locally fabricated revolver Gun, Military camouflage uniform, fake Military I.D Card and other dangerous weapons”.
“Discreet investigation is in progress to unravel the circumstance behind the illegal possession of firearms”.
Another success recorded within the short period of CP Kolo Yusuf was the arrest of two notorious bandits’ informants who supplied and repaired motorcycles food stuffs negotiate and deliver ransom to the bandits in the forest.
The affected persons according to Shehu were, Alhassan Lawali and Mansur Usman, all of them from Tsafe local government area.
Shehu said, “On 14th September, 2022 Police Detectives acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of the above named suspects.
“In the course of interrogation, one of the suspects, Alhassan Lawali confessed to have supplied 14 Operational Motorcycles to the bandits in the forest at the rate of N750,000 each, of which he earned the sum of N15,000 per motorcycle”.
“The suspect further confessed that for over the years, he was the one repairing motorcycle for the bandits if spoiled”.
“The suspect in his statement also mentioned one Mansur Usman ‘M’ as his collaborator who was later arrested by the Police”.
“When interrogated, he confessed to had been supplying food stuff and other items to the bandits in the forest”.
“He also confessed that for many times he collected and delivered ransom to the bandits”.
“The last ransom he delivered was the sum of (N2,300.000”.
Shehu further explained that the command has also arrested a notorious bandit by name Umar Namaru, while two prohibited firearms were recovered from him.
Shehu explained that “On 16th September, 2022 at about 1400hrs, Police Tactical Operatives of the Command while on surveillance patrol along Gusau – Kotor Koshi – Mada axis, intercepted the above named bandit”.
“In the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to be one of the notorious bandits terrorizing Mada and Kotor Koshi with banditry attacks, Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling and other heinous crime”.
“On the spot search, one AK-49 and one Lar rifles and 174 round of live ammunition were recovered in his possession”.
“The suspect made important revelations that are currently assisting Police investigation”.
The police spokesperson maitained that all the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after completion of the investigation.
He concluded that, ”The state Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf has reiterated the determination of the state police command to keep on doing everything possible within the ambit of the law to end the lingering insecurity challenges bedeviling the state over a decade”.
