The Zamfara State Government has announced the arrest of 80 persons for allegedly providing assistance to bandits, involvement in banditry, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.

Abdullahi Shinkafi, Chairman, Committee on Prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences, addressed the media yesterday.

The suspects arrested, including women, were informants, and suppliers of food, drug, military camouflage and police uniforms.

Shinkafi said that security agencies were investigating their level of participation in criminal activities.

“Others have already been charged to court,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying.

Shinkafi said the resurgence of banditry and kidnapping was due to the bombardment of camps by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The chairman said a number of the outlaws were neutralised or dislodged from their hideouts.

He confirmed that insecurity was part of the reasons the government suspended political rallies and campaigns.

Shinkafi condemned the recent murders in Gusau, Tsafe, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka Bungudu, Maru, Maradun and Kaura Namoda local government areas.

“Government is also touched by the killing of some of our gallant security operatives while defending us,” he added.

Four teenagers were also arrested charged with kidnapping in Yobe State.

The suspects were identified as Musa Adamu, 18, Aliyu Ibrahim, 17, Abubakar Zakari, 18, and Muhammed Saleh,19.

The Command’s spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, said the police arrested Adamu, Ibrahim and Saleh when they attempted to receive ransom from the parents of a 14-year-old boy they earlier kidnaped at Nahuta area.

“The 14-year-old boy was with his sister outside their residence when he was lured and whisked away in a vehicle by the suspects on October 12.

“They later demanded for N5 million as ransom for the release of the victim, but the amount was bargained to N200,000 by his parents.

“Investigation reveals that the phone number used in the negotiations was stolen from one Hussaini Abdulazeez who is currently assisting us in investigation,” Abdulkarim said.

Police in Benue equally paraded seven suspects for various criminal offences committed across Benue state.

Police spokesperson Kate Anene told journalists that the suspects were arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and being in possession of illegal weapons. (The Nation: Text, excluding headline)

•Female bandits

Update news