Zamfara State Police command has paraded six suspects involved in criminal conspiracy, intimidation and extortion of money as ransom or levy from community members.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer SP Muhammad Shehu made this known while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Gusau , the state capital.
He said the suspects pretended as bandits to place levies on their host communities, adding that they have collected millions of Naira through a bank account they created for this purpose.
According to him, the suspects are Jamilu Mohammed of Gadar Manya village, Zayyanu Barmo of Manya Babba village and Abubakar Usman of Mandau Village,.
Others include Lawali Girkau of Girkau village, Sala Girkau of Girkau village and
Abubakar Yahaya of Tungar Mani Village All in Anka local government area.
SP Shehu further explained that, exhibit recovered from them are the sum of Seven hundred thousand Naira (700,000) as part of levies they have collected from the villagers.
Similarly, the command also arrested a female gunrunner who specializes in arms and ammunition supply to bandits operating in the state.
The suspect named Gaje Abdullahi of Madachi village in Dandume local government area of Katsina state
was arrested by police and specializes in transporting arms and ammunition to a notorious bandit kingpin known as Dawa.
The said bandit kingpin has been a notorious bandit leader terrorising the innocent people of Zamfara and neighbouring states and the suspect has confessed to her involvement in the crime.
In a related development, the police tactical operatives have rescued fifteen kidnapped victims including a two year, one year old child.
The Police PRO further explained that, the kidnapped victims were abducted by bandits terrorist at Dike village in Funtua local government area of Katsina State.
According to him, the Police operatives on receiving the intelligence information mobilized to the location and conducted search and rescue operation at Sabon Garin Dutsin Kaura forest in Danjibga district of Tsafe local government and rescued them successfully.
All the victims were taken to the hospital for medical check, debriefed by Police detectives and handed over to their families.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf, while commending the Police operatives and vigilante for the successful rescue operation, also congratulated the victims for regaining their freedom.
He reiterated the Command’s continuous determination to rid the state of criminal activities and apprehend criminals committing heinous crimes across the state.
END /SANI HARUNA DUTSINMA.