Police arrest 12 suspected bandits, arms suppliers in Zamfara

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State Police Command has paraded 12 suspects in connection with various offences related to banditry, arms deal and political thuggery as well as recovery of 4 locally fabricated guns, including AK 47 rifle, 100 Rounds of Live ammunition, and 7 cartridges.

Parading the suspects at the Police Command Gusau Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf who was represented by the PPRO, SP Shehu Mohammed, said the Command has received a distress call that armed political thugs carrying sophisticated weapons including locally made guns and cutlasses were shooting sporadically at innocent people in Gusau. 

As a result of the reported nasty action,one person was killed and about 11 others were injured and now receiving treatment at Yariman Bakura Specialist hospital, Gusau.

The Command, in an effort to curtail the situation and arrest the perpetrators, reinforced its tactical operatives, where on sighting the Police operatives, the hoodlums started shooting thereby putting the lives of the Police Operatives  and  peace loving citizens into danger. 

SP Mohammed however noted that the Police acted professionally and used minimum force which led to the arrest of 5 suspects in possession of locally fabricated guns, while others fled. Investigation is in progress and suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation. 

He further said that on the 11th October, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed along Tsafe – Funtua Road acted on intelligence information that led to the interception of a Golf Vehicle, which was driven by one Abubakar Buda, a 32 yrs old, a native of Zuru LGA of Kebbi State. 

“The suspect was arrested along Tsafe – Funtua road, while on transit back from Jos in Plateau State to Kucheri in Tsafe where he was to deliver arms and ammunition  to a notorious bandit leader called Chumo, adding that, Search was conducted on the spot and recovered part of AK 47 rifle and 100 round of AK 47 live ammunition in his possession.

“In the course of interrogation, he mentioned some of his collaborators Bitrus Bulus A K A Peter and Weng Adamu both of Jos South LGA of Plateau state as his partner in crime. Same suspect further confessed to the Police that he has been into arm supply business. 

“The suspect further confessed that he severally collected arms and ammunition from one James in Jos now at large and delivered to the above named bandit leader, who has been terrorising Tsafe – Funtua Road as well as attacked villages and communities in Tsafe and Mada in Gusau LGAs respectively. The 2 other suspects were also arrested and they have confessed to be bandits collaborators.