The police in Kebbi State have recovered a rocket launcher in Kaboro, a border community between the state and Zamfara State.
The weapon was recovered by operatives while combing bushes for criminal elements.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kabiru, informed our correspondent on the phone on Thursday that his command also recovered other assault weapons, including 13 AK-47 rifles, machine gun, 650 live ammunition and 32 live cartridges from unlicensed individuals.
He explained that 18 suspects were arrested and were being investigated for various offences, including robbery and other criminal acts.
Kabiru stated that 11 of the suspects were arrested in connection with the robbery at Kaboro village on April 20, during which five persons were killed and 15 motorcycles stolen.
Some of the suspects are Lawal Ibrahim, Naziru Lawali, Yahaya Mohammed, Haliru Shantali, Hussaini Hamisu and Mohammed Nuhu.
Others are Habibu Sani, Rilwanu Mohammed, Mohammed Sanusi, Mohammed Bara’u and Abubakar Haruna.
Ten of the men were said to be indigenes of Zamfara State while the 11th suspect hailed from Kebbi.
The CP said that the suspected bandits crossed from Zamfara to the border villages in Bena District of Kebbi killed the people and plundered the communities.
“Items recovered from the suspects include five locally-made guns, four axes, four shovels and bunch of charms. To ensure the safety of the border communities, we have deployed mobile force personnel, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Safer Highway teams, conventional policemen and a surveillance unit to check the activities of bandits in the area,” Kabiru said. (Punch)
