The police command, in Zamfara, has arrested eight suspected informants, who supply arms and ammunition, foodstuff, motorcycles, military uniforms, negotiate and deliver ransom to the bandits in the state.
Addressing newsmen at the State Police headquarters on Saturday, September 17, spokesman of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu said the suspects and a notorious bandit were arrested by the Police Tactical Operatives during an intelligence led operations conducted in some criminal hideouts in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs respectively.
The spokesman revealed that the command smashed a 6-man syndicate of informants to bandits.
He gave the names of the informants as Abubakar Mainasara from Tsafe Local Government Area, Babangida Mohammed, alias Soja, who impersonates as a military officer from Gusau Local Government Area, Jamilu Kawali, alias Tailor, also from Gusau.
Others include Lawali Ibrahim from Kauran Namoda, Surajo Idris, popularly known as “Honourable” from Gusau and Amadu Rufai from Birini Magaji Local Government Area of the State.
“On 12th September, 2022, the arrested suspects listed above are members of a notorious syndicate of informants who collaborate with Bandits to terrorize peace loving people of Gusau, K/Namoda, Tsafe, Bungudu LGAs and environs,” the PPRO stated.
“The nefarious activities of this syndicate group were to give information to Bandits to make it easier for them to attack communities and kidnap people for ransom. It was equally part of their activities to collect millions of Naira to source for arms/ammunition and Military camouflage uniforms for the Bandits.
“Their recent dirty business was when one of the suspects Abubakar Mainasara ‘M’ A.K.A Major in his statement to the Police confessed of collecting the sum of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850, 000) from the bandits to source for military camouflage uniforms for them, a consignment that was given to Babangida A.K.A Major, who connived with one of their collaborators, a Tailor, one Jamilu Lawali ‘M’ of Gusau to source and sew the uniforms which at the end was delivered to the Bandits.
“The same suspect further confessed of collecting the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) from Bandits to supply arms and ammunition for them, even though, two of his accomplices Lawal Ibrahim ‘M’ and Surajo Idris ‘M’ confirmed to the Police that the money given to the suspect was Six Million Naira (N6,000,000) for the arms deal consignment and not N2,000,000 naira.
“The sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) was given to same Babangida Soja ‘M’, who in turn gave only Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000) to Jamilu Lawali ‘M’, (Tailor) for the supply of the ammunition who at the end supplied Ten (10) rounds of AK-47 live ammunition which was handed over to Bandits through Babangida Soja and Abubakar Mainasara ‘M’”
The command also arrested a suspect, Zainu Lawal, 30, of Tsafe LGA, in possession of arms, four rounds of cartridge, military camouflage, fake military ID card and other dangerous weapons.
“On 14th September, 2022, Police Tactical Operatives from the Police Command headquarters acted on intelligence information about some suspected activities of the above mentioned suspect,” the spokesperson said.
“The suspect, who claimed to be an ex-soldier, was arrested being in possession of a locally fabricated revolver Gun, Military camouflage uniform, fake Military I.D Card and other dangerous weapons. Discreet investigation is in progress to unravel the circumstance behind the illegal possession of firearms.”
In another development, two notorious informants who supplied motorcycles, food stuff, negotiate and deliver ransom to the bandits in the forest were arrested.
The suspects are; Alhassan Lawali, 27, and Musur Usman aka Dan Alhaji, 25, both of Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
“On 14th September, 2022 Police Detectives acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of the above named s