THE Zamfara State Police Command has achieved another breakthrough in its fight against banditry by arresting a notorious regional gunrunner, a local gun manufacturer, and several suspected bandits during a series of coordinated operations.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday.
He commended the officers and men of the state police command for their relentless efforts in tackling criminal activities across the state.
According to the CP, a notorious regional gunrunner was apprehended while transporting a cache of arms and ammunition intended for delivery to bandit camps operating in the region.
“We were trailing a regional arms trafficker that has been trafficking arms from Algeria through the Niger Republic and based on credible information, we trailed him when he was leaving Algeria, going through Niger, we sent our men to the Ilela border where we ambushed him and got him arrested,” he said.
“He has been in this business for the past eight years since when banditry started in the Northwest, he has going to Algeria bringing arms into the country sharing them to different bandits groups. Four AK-47 rifles were recovered during that Investigation.”
Police operatives also arrested a manufacturer of locally-made guns from Plateau State
“Our men on patrol in the night discovered another four AK-47 rifles hidden in a bag of rice, in the process of investigations it was discovered that it was somebody who used to go to Jos, to get it from someone who produced the AK-47 locally.
“We were able to get the address of the manufacturer, and we went underground to Jos and arrested the manufacturer, he produces AK-47 rifles and SMG perfectly,” the CP added.
Other suspects arrested include some dealers of bandits’ motorcycles who were nabbed while going to purchase motorcycles for bandits, and illegal miners among others.
Nineteen AK-47 riffles, several live ammunitions and cash worth over N2.5 million, charms, Indian Hemp, a mobile phone power bank, mining machines and excavator were also recovered from the suspects.
The Command has reiterated its commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the region, urging citizens to continue providing credible information to assist in combating crime.
