“The police also arrested two suspected bandit collaborators who allegedly specialised in supplying hard drugs and dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp to bandits in the state,” he added.
The Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State command, has said that its men and officers arrested 10 bandits’ informants and collaborators, and recovered two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, 104 round live ammunition among others.
The Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, in a statement made available to SaharaReporters said that on December 5, the police while on confidence building patrol along Zurmi and Shinkafi local government areas of the state received a distress call about bandits plan to attack some villages of the two LGAs.
“The police also arrested two suspected bandit collaborators who allegedly specialised in supplying hard drugs and dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp to bandits in the state,” he added.
The arrested suspects according to the PPRO include a 25-year-old man, Murtala Dahiru from Galadi village in Shinkafi Local Government Area and a 39-year-old man, Sani Mohammed from Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
The police spokesperson said that on December 7, at about 1200hours, Police Tactical operatives, while on a confidence patrol acted on intelligence information that led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects were arrested while transporting a large quantity of dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp all the way from Lagos to Shinkafi in Zamfara state. In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to several supplies of hard drugs and other substances to the bandits operating at Shinkafi and Zurmi axis. Discreet investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Similarly, on December 8, at about 1330hours, Police Tactical operatives while on stop and search, acted on credible information that led to the arrest of four suspected collaborators of bandits in possession of large quantities of dried leaf suspected to be Indian Hemp.
The PPRO said that “The Four (4) suspects were arrested in an 18 seater Toyota vehicle conveying a large quantity of dried leaf suspected to be Indian hemp from Lagos and to be delivered to Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state.
“In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed that the consignment was meant for bandits operating in a forest under Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara state.”
According to the police report, the arrested suspects include a 35-year-old man, Lawali Salisu; a 34-year-old man, Bello Mohammed, a 28-year-old man, Saying Mohammed and a 27-year-old man, Aliyu Yahaya.
The police operatives also arrested two suspected bandits informants who collaborate with terrorists to impose levies on the villagers and deliver the terrorists. The operatives also arrested one person who gives bandits and terrorists information on operational activities of security agencies and vigilante.
The suspects include a 75-year-old Abubakar Idaho from Kwarya Tsugunne village in Maru Local Government Area of the state; a 69-year-old Almustapha Dahiru from Yanbuki village in Zurmi Local Government Area and Mohammed Sani Jibrin from Kekun Waje village in Bungudu Local Government Area.