OPERATIVES of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested a suspected notorious bandit leader, Ali Bahago Danakulu, alongside his alleged lieutenants during a security operation in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
News Point Nigeria reports that the arrest was confirmed by the Command’s spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, who disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence that led officers to a criminal gang allegedly terrorising residents of Kasuwan Daji and neighbouring communities.
According to him, the suspects had remained on the Command’s watchlist for an extended period over their alleged involvement in armed robbery, banditry and other violent crimes within the area.
The suspects arrested during the operation were identified as Ali Bahago Danakulu of Kasuwan Daji, Hassan Dan Kure, also of Kasuwan Daji, and Dahiru Lawali of Gidan Ango.
DSP Yazid stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of an armed criminal gang allegedly headed by Ali Bahago, who has been linked to several criminal activities across the locality.
He further disclosed that one member of the gang was neutralised during the operation, while three suspects were successfully apprehended by security operatives.
According to the police, a cache of weapons and other items was recovered during the raid. The recovered exhibits include one pump-action gun, one single-barrel gun, a fabricated G3 rifle, two Dane guns, four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, nine pump-action cartridges, one handcuff chain, one locally made pistol, three Boxer motorcycles, and a locally fabricated magazine.
The police spokesperson said the suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to unravel the full extent of the gang’s activities and identify other collaborators.
He added that efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend fleeing members of the criminal network.
The Zamfara State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against armed criminal groups across the state and called on residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding the fight against crime.
