By Adam Sanusi, Gusau
The Zamfara state police command has arrested Five suspects for Banditry, Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling.
This was revealed by the command’s spokes person SP Muhammad Shehu while parading the suspects to newsmen at the command headquarters in Gusau Wednesday.
According to him, the operatives of the command had repelled bandits attack along Gusau-Magami- Dansadau road in the state.
“On 1st January 2023 , Police Tactical operatives while on confidence building patrol along Gusau – Magami – Dansadau Road received a distress call about bandits plan to block the road and attack commuters and by extension some villages”. Shehu noted
He explained that during the encounter one of the bandits was neutralised and others were repelled by the superior fire power of the Police operatives while the bandits retreated back to the forest with possible gun shot wounds.
Shehu stated that exhibits recovered by the police comprised two AK 47 Rifles, two Magazines, 104 round of live ammunition and bunch of charms belonging to the bandits were recovered at the scene.
The command had also arrested two suspected bandits for kidnaping and cattle rustling.
The two suspects included one Umaru Buba a 21 years old of Baburasa Village in Kainji LGA of Niger State and Babuga Manu, a 20 years old of same address.
“Police Tactical operatives while on confidence building patrol/ Stop and Search acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of the above mentioned suspects”.
He said, in the course of interrogation by the Police, the suspects confessed of being into Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling in Various states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and other States in the North.
“The suspects further confessed of belonging to the gang of Bello Turji where they took part in the kidnapping of unspecified number of victims in which millions of Naira were collected as ransom”.
The police has additionally apprehended one of the notorious bandit kingpin Halilu Kachalla alongside Musbahu Aminu and Abu Umaru 30 and 25 years old who terrorized Zamfara state.
“The suspect Halilu Kachalla while undergoing discreet investigation confessed of being a gang member of Bandit Kingpin Halilu Kachalla who operates in many in Zamfara and other neighboring States”. Shehu said.
Halilu Kachalla further confessed of participating in several kidnapping and cattle rustling where millions of Naira were paid by victims relations as ransom.
On the other hand, the police has arrested one bandits informant Isah Ayuba, a 35 years old of Kaura Namoda local government area of the state.
“On 3rd January, 2023 Police Tactical Operatives acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of a notorious bandits informant who gives information to Bandits operating in Kaura Namoda, B/Magaji , Zurmi and Shinkafi LGAs”. Said Shehu.
However in the cause of interrogation, the suspect confessed to collaborating with bandits by giving them information on who to kidnap, where to attack.
According to police image maker, discreet investigation is in progress, all the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution on completion of investigation.
