Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested eight suspected informants, who supply arms and ammunition, foodstuff, motorcycles, military uniforms, negotiate and deliver ransom to the bandits in the state.
Spokesman of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu while addressing newsmen at the State Police headquarters on Saturday, September 17, said the suspects and a notorious bandit were arrested by the Police Tactical Operatives during some intelligence-led operations conducted in some criminal hideouts in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs respectively.
According to the spokesman, the command smashed a 6-man syndicate of informants to bandits.
He gave the names of the informants as Abubakar Mainasara from Tsafe Local Government Area, Babangida Mohammed, alias Soja, who impersonates as a military officer from Gusau Local Government Area, Jamilu Kawali, alias Tailor, also from Gusau.
Others include Lawali Ibrahim fr?m Kauran Namoda, Surajo Idris, popularly known as “Honourable” from Gusau and Amadu Rufai from Birini Magaji Local Government Area of the State.
“On 12th September, 2022, the arrested suspects listed above are 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 PPRO stated.
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 command also arrested a suspect, Zainu Lawal, 30, of Tsafe LGA, in possession of arms, four rounds of cartridge, military camouflage, fake military ID card and other dangerous weapons.
On 14th September, 2022, Police Tactical Operatives from the Police Command headquarters acted on intelligence information about some suspected activities of the above mentioned suspect,” the spokesperson said.
“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.”
In another development, two notorious informants who supplied motorcycles, food stuff, negotiate and deliver ransom to the bandits in the forest were arrested.
The suspects are; Alhassan Lawali, 27, and Musur Usman aka Dan Alhaji, 25, both of Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
“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 PPRO said.
“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.
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 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.”
All the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution upon completion of the investigation.
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