Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The Zamfara police command has arrested seven security operatives for allegedly supplying arms, ammunition, and military kits to bandits in the state.
Ibrahim Dosara, Zamfara commissioner for information, who disclosed this at a media briefing on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested in various communities across the state.
Items recovered from the suspects include military bulletproof vests, jungle boots, shin guards, identity card, camouflage uniforms, among others.
“I wish to inform you that the state government has just received a report from the police on the arrest of seven security agents involved in aiding and abetting banditry activities across the state,” he said.
“The suspects, who have already been interrogated and confessed to their respective crimes, have since the commencement of the military operations in the state in recent past, been sabotaging the operations by sharing military intelligence, supplying arms and ammunition, military uniforms and other facilities to the armed bandits to prevent our gallant soldiers from conquering the bandits.
“This is why it took the Nigerian military and other security agencies fighting the bandits that long to defeat them. The suspects have already been handed over to their appropriate security authorities for further necessary actions.
“We feel obliged not to disclose their identities, as the security authorities concerned are acting on the matter.”
He, however, urged the federal government to come through on the promise to deploy additional security forces to the state.
“Zamfara state government is appealing to the president and commander-in-chief of the Nigeria armed forces to redeem his pledge on the deployment of 6,000 troops to the state to clear the recalcitrant bandits terrorising various communities of our dear state,” Dosara said.
“The state government also wants to urge the military authorities to embark on active supervision and monitoring of the military operations to ensure synergy and effectiveness.”
The development comes weeks after an officer of the Nigerian army was arrested for supplying ammunition and uniforms to bandits in Zamfara.
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