The Zamfara State Police Command under the leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf has continued to sustain it onslaught against the activities of criminal elements, saying over 250 suspects on banditry related cases were arrested since the onslaught commenced across the state.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday evening at the police command headquarters in Gusau, the police public relations officer, SP Mohammed Shehu said more Success were recorded in the state.
He said “The onslaught since it commencement had resulted in the unprecedented arrest of over two hundred and fifty suspects for Banditry related cases, as well as recovery of Arms and Ammunition ranging from AK 47, AK 49, Rocket lunchers, RPGs, GPMGs, Lar and other calibre of sophisticated rifles”.
According to him, the effort of the command has helped tremendously in stabilizing the security of Zamfara which was hitherto worrisome and disturbing.
He maintained that some of the recent achievements recorded included the recovery of Ak 47 rifle and three fabricated revolver pistols along Munhaye forest in Tsafe local government area of the state.
“Police Tactical operatives on confidence building patrol along Tsafe – Munhaye forest, acted on intelligence report and conducted a rigorous patrol/stop and search with view to arresting some gun runners who were on their way to Munhaye forest to supply Arms and Ammunition to the bandits”.
He said the gun runners on noticing Police presence, abandoned the sack containing the Arms and Ammunition and fled into the thick forest.
He further said 3 fraudsters who specialised in defrauding bank customers at various ATM machines in Kano, Kaduna, Kastina and Zamfara states were arrested in the state.
“On 24th January 2023, Police detectives acted based on complain by one Abubakar Lawali ‘M’ of Talata Mafara LGA. That on same date, while at the Zenith Bank ATM Gallery Talata branch, suspects conspired and defrauded the sum of one million Naira (#1, 000,000) by withdrawing same from account through a POS operator via his ATM Card”.
According to the complainant, the suspects succeeded in their action when they offered to help him to make withdrawal when he could not make the transactions due to network problem.
“They collected his ATM card and decietfully withdrew the money from POS operator. In the course of interrogation, all the suspects confessed to the crime and further stated how they carried out similar fraud at different banks in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara States respectively”.
“The sum of One Million Naira (#1, 000,000) cash belonging to the complainant and a suspected Honda Accord Anaconda Vehicle were recovered from them as exhibits”.
He said Discreet investigation is in progress with a view to arrest other members of their gang and charge them to court for prosecution.
“On 24th January, 2023 Police detectives acted on intelligence report and arrested the above mentioned suspects who were both residing in Bela village under Bungudu LGA. The suspects before their arrest were part of criminal syndicate that gave information to Bandits and also supplied all form of dried leaves suspected to be Indian helm and other dangerous drugs”.
“Their actions have continued to aggrevate Attacks, Kidnapping and killing of innocent people of Bungudu, Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji LGAs by the bandits”.
“On 23rd January, 2023, Police Operatives based on intelligence report arrested the above mentioned suspect. The suspect has been a member of criminal syndicate that have been operating in Kaduna, Zamfara and other Neighbouring states”.
He further revealed that In the course of Police investigation, the suspect confessed that, on several occasions, he and other members of their gang participated in the Kidnapping of unspecified number of people and collected millions of Naira as ransom from the relations of the victims.
“The suspect confessed to have rustled unspecified number of cows and sheep. Suspect will be charged to Court for prosecution as soon as investigation is completed”.
