Nigerian Police Arrest Female Bandits' Arms Supplier, Six Others In Zamfara

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State Command, have arrested a female gunrunner who allegedly specialises in supplying arms and ammunition to a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Dawa.

The Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, in a statement said that the female gunrunner identified as Gaje Abdullah from Madachi village in Katsina State was arrested on November 29 by Police Tactical Operatives who acted on intelligence information.“On 29th November, 2022 Police Tactical Operatives acted on intelligence information and arrested the above mentioned female suspect.

“The female suspect is a notorious gunrunner that specialises in transporting arms and ammunition to a notorious bandit kingpin Known as Dawa.

“The said bandits kingpin has been a notorious bandit leader terrorizing the innocent people of Zamfara and neighbouring states. The suspect confessed to her involvement in the crime. Investigation is in progress,” the police spokesperson said.Similarly, SP Shehu said the police also arrested six persons suspected to be involved in criminal conspiracy and intimidation to wit extortion, adding that upon their arrest, police recovered from them the sum of N700,000 as part of levies they collected from the villages.

The PPRO explained that Police Tactical operatives on November 29 at about 4:15p.m arrested the six suspects who pretended as bandits to place levies on their host communities.

The suspects “collected millions of Naira through a bank account they created for this purpose.

“In the course of investigation, all the suspects confessed to the crime and further stated that part of their criminal activities was to send threatening messages to the villages asking to contribute and pay money to them or face attack.

“They further confessed to receiving millions of Naira from five different communities. Discreet investigation led to the recovery of the sum of Seven hundred thousand Naira as part of levies they collected from the affected villages. Effort is being made to make further arrest and recovery before being charged to court for prosecution.”

The suspects include Jamilu Mohammed 'M' of Gadar Manya village; Zayyanu Barmo 'M' of Manya Babba village; Abubakar Usman 'M' of Mandau Village; Lauwali Girkau 'M' of Girkau village; Sala Girkau 'M' of Girkau village and Abubakar Yahaya 'M' of Tungar Mani Village, all in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

SP Shehu further stated that the Police Tactical Operatives in collaboration with vigilante acted on intelligence information regarding the abduction of 15 victims by terrorists at Dike village in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to the police spokesperson, “The Police operatives on receiving the intelligence information mobilized to the location and conducted search and rescue operation at sabon garin Dustin Kaura forest in Danjibga district of Tsafe LGa. The rescue operation was successfully conducted, leading to the rescue of the victims Hale and Hearty.

“The victims were taken to the hospital for medical check, debriefed by the Police detectives and handed over to their families.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf, while commending the police operatives and vigilant for the successful rescue operation, congratulates the victims for regaining their freedom, and reiterates the Command's continuous determination to rid the state of criminal activities and apprehend criminal elements committing heinous crimes across the state.”

-sahara reporters