By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected informants to the bandits in the state.

Items recovered from the suspected informants to include arms/ammunition, foodstuff, motorcycles, military uniforms, negotiate and delivered ransom to the bandits.

Briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters on Saturday in Gusau, on behalf of CP KOLO Yusuf, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu, reiterated its untiring commitment to rid Zamfara state of criminal activities.

According to the statement, in his untiring commitment to rid Zamfara State of criminal activities ranging from Armed Banditry, Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling and other related crimes, and in line with the mission and vision of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba.

The CP also, reiterated the determination of the Command to keep on doing everything within the ambit of the law to end the lingering insecurity bedeviling Zamfara State for over a decade.

The Commissioner of Police gave the assurance through the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu while parading Ten (10) suspects arrested by the Police Tactical Operatives during an intelligence led operations conducted in some criminal hideouts in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs respectively.

Shehu gave the Names of the suspects as ABUBAKAR MAINASARA AKA, MAJOR ‘M’ AGED 35YRS OF TSAFE LGA

BABANGIDA MOH’D A.K.A, SOJA ‘M’ (IMPERSONATOR OF BEING A MILITARY PERSONNEL) AGED 30YRS OF GUSAU LGA

JAMILU KAWALI A.K.A TAILOR ‘M’ OF GUSAU LGA

LAWAL IBRAHIM AKA GALADIMA ‘M’ AGED 38YRS OF K/NAMODA LGA

SURAJO IDRIS A.K.A HON. ‘M’ AGED 37YRS OF T/WADA AREA, GUSAU LGA

AMADU RUFAI 'M' OF BIRNIN MAGAJI LGA

On 12th September, 2022, the command arrested suspects listed above as members of a notorious syndicate of informants who collaborate with Bandits to terrorize peace loving people of Gusau, K/Namoda, Tsafe, Bungudu LGAs and environs.

The nefarious activities of the syndicates group were to give information to Bandits to make it easier for them to attack communities and kidnap people for ransom.

Added that part of their activities to collect millions of Naira to source for arms/ammunition and Military camouflage uniforms for the Bandits.

Stated that their recent dirty business was when one of the suspects Abubakar Mainasara ‘M’ A.K.A Major in his statement to the Police confessed of collecting the sum of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850, 000) from the bandits to source for military camouflage uniforms for them, a consignment that was given to Babangida A.K.A Major, who connived with one of their collaborators, a Tailor, one Jamilu Lawali 'M' of Gusau to source and sew the uniforms which at the end was delivered to the Bandits.

The same suspect further confessed of collecting the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) from Bandits to supply arms and ammunition for them, even though, two of his accomplices Lawal Ibrahim ‘M’ and Surajo Idris ‘M’ confirmed to the Police that the money given to the suspect was Six Million Naira (N6,000,000) for the arms deal consignment and not N2,000,000 naira.

The sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) was given to same Babangida Soja ‘M’, who in turn gave only Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000) to Jamilu Lawali ‘M’, (Tailor) for the supply of the ammunition who at the end supplied Ten (10) rounds of AK-47 live ammunition which was handed over to Bandits through Babangida Soja and Abubakar Mainasara ‘M’

The police further arrested one suspect ZAINU LAWAL ‘M’ AGED 39YRS OF TSAFE LGA

EXHIBIT RECOVERED Locally fabricated revolver gun, 4 Cartridge, fake military I D Card and one (1) Set of camouflage uniform.

Shehu continuing said that on September 14, 2022, Police Tactical Operatives from the Police Command headquarters acted on intelligence information about some suspected activities of the above mentioned suspect.

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.

The also, disclosed that 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, the suspect confessed to have supplied over fourteen (14) Operational Motorcycles to the Bandits in the forest at the rate of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N750,000) each, of which he earned the sum of Fifteen Thousand Naira (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 stuffs and deliver same 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 Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,300,000).

The police PPRO, further stated that one notorious bandit was arrested and item of two prohibited firearms were recovered

The suspect's Name UMAR NAMARO ‘M’ AGED 35YRS OF RAFI IN MADA DISTRICT OF GUSAU LGA

EXHIBITS RECOVERED:

ONE (1) AK-49 RIFLE

ONE (1) LAR RIFLE

174 Round of live ammunition

He further disclosed that on September 16, 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 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 suspects, according to Shehu, will be charged to Court for Prosecution, upon completion of the investigation.