From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Zamfara state police have arrested l2 suspected persons in connection with various offences related to banditry, arms deal and political thuggery.
Four locally fabricated guns, some parts of AK 47 Rifle, 100 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, 7 cartridges, cutlass and bunch of charms.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Gusau, the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu said five of suspects were political thugs arrested in connection with sporadic shooting that resulted in killing one person and injured eleven others.
The suspects according to Shehu are; Lawali Yakubu, Aminu Abubakar, Shua’ibu Mohammed, Abdulmummuni Bawa and Sirajo Yahaya.
Shehu said, “On 15th October, 2022 at about 1815hrs, Zamfara State Police Command received a distress call that Armed political thugs carrying sophisticated weapons including locally made guns and cutlasses were shooting sporadically at innocent people in Gusau”.
“As a result of this one person was killed and injured about eleven others now receiving treatment at Yariman Bakura Specialist hospital, Gusau.”
“The Command in an effort to curtail the situation and arrest the perpetrators, reinforced its tactical operatives, where on sighting the Police operatives, the hoodlums started shooting thereby putting the lives of the Police Operatives and peace loving citizens into danger”.
“However, the Police acted professionally and used minimum force which led to the arrest of five (5) suspects in possession of locally fabricated guns, while others fled”.
“Investigation is in progress and suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation”.
Shehu also said that, three bandits’ informants who engaged in gunrunning business between Plateau state and Zamfara were arrested by the police.
The suspects according to Shehu were; Abubakar Buda, Bitrus Bulus and Weng Adamu, while part of AK 47 rifles and 100 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition were recovered from them.
According to Shehu, on 11th October, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed along Tsafe – Funtua Road acted on intelligence information that led to the interception of a Golf Vehicle Dark Arsh in colour, which was driven by one Abubakar Buda, a 32 yrs old, a native of Zuru LGA of Kebbi State.
The suspect, according to Shehu was arrested along Tsafe – Funtua road, while on transit back from Jos in Plateau State to to Kucheri in Tsafe where he was to deliver the arms and Ammunition to a notorious bandit leader called Chumo.
“Search was conducted on the spot, and the above exhibits were recovered in his possession”.
Shehu said, “In the course of interrogation, he mentioned some of his collaborators Bitrus Bulus A K A Peter and Weng Adamu both ‘M’ of Jos South LGA of Plateau state as his partner in crime”.
“Same suspect further confessed to the Police that he has been into arm supply business where he severally collected arms and ammunition from one James in Jos now at large and deliver to the above named Bandit leader , who has been terrorisjng Tsafe – Funtua Road as well as attacked villages and communities in Tsafe and Mada in Gusau LGAs respectively”.
“The two other suspects were also arrested and they have confessed to be bandits collaborators. Investigation is in progress”.
In a related development four suspected bandits who have been terrorizing Tsafe-Funtuwa road have been arrested.
They are; Ibrahim Abubakar, Sani Yahaya, Sani Mohammed and Ahmed Sani.
Exhibits recovered from them included two motorcycles, four handset, one walkig-talking and N140.000.
According to Shehu, the culprits were arrested on 15th October, 2022 at about 4 o’clock pm.
He said “The Police Tactical Operatives while on patrol along Tsafe – Funtua Road acted on intelligence information and intercepted two Motorcycles carrying two persons each”.
“The suspects were arrested with walking talkee, which they used to communicate among themselves during operations”.
“Intelligence information about them revealed that, they are among the hoodlums that terrorized commuters along Tsafe – Funtua road by attacking, killing and kidnapping innocent people”.
“They also belong to a notorious syndicate that made life unbearable in several villages in Tsafe and it’s environ. Discreet investigation is in progress”.
