The Zamfara State Police Command has paraded 21 suspects for a variety of crimes, including banditry, kidnapping, theft, and vandalism.
SP Mohammed Shehu, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), said 17 of the suspects were involved in post-election violence that resulted in the vandalism and looting of public and private properties, including All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign offices across the state capital.
Two semi-silent generators from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in Gusau were recovered, as well as two standing refrigerators, vandalised doors, windows, tables, chairs, electric wires and various calibres of electronics, couches, 40 pieces of women’s wrappers, burglar-proof windows, and pillar reinforcement rods.
It could be recalled that police detectives led by the Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, had earlier arrested 40 suspects, recovered some of the looted items and vandalised property worth millions of naira which were displayed, and later charged the suspects to court, remanding them in prison.
The police command in Zamfara also arrested a “wanted” notorious bandit accused of terrorising the state and environs.
The suspect, a male aged 25, was arrested by police tactical operatives on patrol who acted on intelligence.
According to the police, the suspect was already on the wanted list of the police for banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
“In the course of investigation, the Suspect confessed of series of attacks and kidnapping on different communities in Zamfara State where millions of Naira collected as ransom from the Relations. The suspect who further confessed of bearing GPMG during their operations, mentioned some of his allied which the police detectives is working assiduously to arrest. Discreet Investigation is ongoing,” the police said.
The command also arrested two suspects in connection with being in possession of 22 rustled livestock.
The suspects, aged 31 and 55, were reportedly arrested when the police were on patrol. Acting on intelligence information, they said to have intercepted and arrested three Toyota buses loaded with suspected stolen cows, sheep and goat from Dansadau to Gusau.
On sighting the police, the suspects attempted to abandon the vehicles and exhibits to escape, but they were rounded up and arrested by the police operatives, the authorities said.
“Suspects are currently undergoing discreet Investigation that will lead to the arrest of their collaborators before being charged to court for prosecution,” the PPRO added.
The Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, while applauding the people of Zamfara State for their unalloyed support and partnership, tasked them to sustain the synergy with the police and other security agencies for effective service delivery.