The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested eight people suspected to be supplying ammunition, military uniforms, motorcycles and foodstuffs to bandits in the state.
This was made known by the Command’s spokesman, SP Muhammad Shehu, who spoke with newsmen on Saturday.
Some of the arrested suspects were also said to have successfully negotiated and delivered several sums as ransom from families to the kidnappers for a commission.
Shehu told newsmen in Gusau that the suspects were arrested by the Police Tactical Squad in Gusau and Tsafe Local Government Areas.
Shehu said five of the suspects specialised in providing information, supplying military camouflage and ammunition to the bandits.
He said: “Police Tactical Operatives of the command acted on intelligence information about some suspected activities of a suspect, Zainu Lawali.”
He said Lawali, who claimed to be an ex-soldier, was arrested in possession of a locally fabricated revolver, military camouflage uniform, fake military I.D card, four cartridges and other dangerous weapons.
The Police Public Relations Officer said one of those arrested, Alhassan Lawali, had allegedly confessed to have supplied 14 new motorcycles to the bandits at the rate of N750,000 each.
Shehu added that the operatives while on surveillance patrol along Gusau-KotorKoshi-Mada axis, intercepted a notorious bandit, Umar Manaro, who was terrorising people in Mada and Kotorkoki areas of the state.
“On spot search, one AK-49 and one Lar rifle and 174 round of live ammunition were recovered in his possession,” he added.
The PPRO said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.
