Zamfara: Police foil attack, arrest 16 suspected bandits, recover firearms

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Zamfara State Police Command has succeeded in foiling an attempted attack on communities around Dansadau district of Maru local government area of the state and recovered firearms after gun battle with large number of armed bandits.

Parading 16 suspected criminals ranging from bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers at the Police Command on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Shehu Mohammed who represented the Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf, said the foiled attempted attack and the subsequent recovery of firearms has occurred between Friday 11th to Monday 14th November, 2022.

CP Kolo further noted that, the Police Tactical Operatives deployed to some locations that are prone to bandits attack under Dansadau Emirate of the state received distress call about plans by bandits to attack the communities. 

The Commissioner added that, “The operatives responded promptly and moved to the location with a view to repelling the attack, whereby a serious gun battle ensued between the bandits and operatives.

“Fortunately, the attack was repelled forcing the hoodlums to fled into the forest with possible gunshot wounds. Two

AK-47 rifles with thirty five rounds of live ammunition and some bunch of charms belonging to the bandits were recovered at the scene. 

Within the week under review, Police Tactical Operatives while on confidence building patrol along Gusau – Funtua road, acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of a notorious bandit’s kingpin named Sujora Almandawi as one of the bandits terrorizing villages in Tsafe, Kotorkoshi, Damba and some outskirts of Gusau.

According to him, in the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to serial kidnapping and cattle rustling in more than 10 Communities in Gusau, Tsafe and Bungudu LGAs, where they collected millions of naira from the relations of victims as ransom as he also confessed of rustling unspecified number of cows.

In the case of Bage Mohammed, the suspect was arrested by the joint Police and Vigilante while on confidence building patrol along Anka – Bukkuyum road. The arrest was sequel to intelligence report received about the suspect and his involvement in the attack of some villages in Bukkuyum and kidnapping of 11 persons in Dargaji village.

The suspect as according to CP Kolo, has confessed to several attacks, kidnappings and rustling of unspecified number of cows and sheep in some parts of Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi LGAs.The suspect is currently assisting the Police with useful information for more arrest and recovery.