Zamfara State government led by Governor Bello Matawalle has confirmed the arrested of no fewer than eighty persons over their alleged involvement in banditry activity.
The suspects, including women, were nabbed by security agencies who were combing the state for criminal elements, Naija News reports.
Giving details about the arrest, Chairman of the Committee on Prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences, Abdullahi Shinkafi, while addressing the media on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested in connection with terror groups.
Some of them, according to Shinkafi, were found to be informants, and suppliers of food, drug, military camouflage and police uniforms to the terrorists while some were directly involved in banditry, kidnapping for ransom and illegal possession of firearms.
Shinkafi disclosed further that security agencies were already investigating their level of participation in criminal activities in the state and its neighbourhood.
”Others have already been charged to court to face charges of their involvement”, Shinkafi said.
He explained further that the resurgence of banditry and kidnapping was due to the bombardment of camps by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The chairman said a number of the outlaws were neutralised or dislodged from their hideouts. He confirmed that insecurity was part of the reasons the government suspended political rallies and campaigns.
Shinkafi condemned the recent murders in Gusau, Tsafe, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka Bungudu, Maru, Maradun and Kaura Namoda local government areas.
“Government is also touched by the killings of some of our gallant security operatives who lost their lives in our defense”, the official said.
Bello Matawalle: A Step Too Far
Bello Matawalle: A Step Too Far
