By AMINU DALHATU
The Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG), popularly known as Askarawa, have paraded nine suspects arrested for alleged involvement in banditry, cattle rustling, intelligence gathering, logistics supply and other criminal activities across the State.
The suspects were paraded in Gusau by the CPG Commandant, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Shehu Dalijan, following a series of security operations conducted in different parts of Zamfara State.
Among those paraded was 20-year-old Abubakar Malan Ori, who allegedly confessed to spending several months in the camp of notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Gwaska.
According to the Commandant, the suspect participated in criminal operations across Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states, as well as the Niger Republic.
He further alleged that the suspect provided information on ransom payments amounting to more than 226 million naira collected from several kidnapping operations.
Other suspects, including Mamman Haruna and Aliyu Lawali, were also accused of participating in cattle rustling and armed attacks alongside notorious bandit leaders.
The CPG also paraded a suspected bandit doctor, Ibrahim Mafindi Titus, who allegedly treated wounded members of criminal groups using medical supplies reportedly sourced from outside the country.
The Commandant said other suspects included alleged informants, logistics suppliers, drug dealers and an impersonator, Mustapha Muhammed, who was reportedly arrested for allegedly extorting money from the relative of a detainee outside the CPG headquarters.
Dalijan said the arrests followed intelligence gathered from suspects and individuals with links to various criminal networks operating across the State.
He reiterated the commitment of the Zamfara State security architecture to dismantling criminal networks, identifying and prosecuting their collaborators, and restoring lasting peace and security across communities in the State.
Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
