Zamfara police arrest ex-Army officer for supply of arms to bandits, kidnappers

The Zamfara state police command has arrested one Sa’idu Lawal 41 –year- old who specialised in transportation and supply of fire arms to bandits and terrorist in the state.

The command’s spokesperson SP Muhammad Shehu while parading the suspect at a press briefing Wednesday held at the command’s headquarters said, the suspect was an ex-Army officer and an indigene of Zamfara state.

“On 27th August, 2022 at about 1730hrs, Police Tactical/Escort Team attached to the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Police Command, CP Kolo Yusuf acted on actionable intelligence that led to the arrest of the above named suspect who was an Ex-service personnel of the Nigeria Army attached to 73 Battalion Janguza Army Barracks Kano”. SP Shehu stated.

“The suspect was intercepted with a Pontiac Vibe vehicle with registration number KRD 686 CY Lagos, along Abuja – Kaduna enroute Zamfara State where Search was conducted on the spot and the above mentioned exhibits were recovered in his possession.

“In  the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was to convey the said exhibits from Loko LGA of Nasarawa State to his customer one Dogo Hamza ‘M’ of Bacha village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State,” he noted

According to him, exhibits recovered from him included, 1 AK-47 Rifle Breech No. Q971987, 1 AK-49 Rifle Breech No. 34-7094200 7.6mm Rounds of Live Ammunition501 7.62X51mm Rounds of GPMG live ammunition and 8 empty magazines.

In an interview, the suspect confessed that he had previously supplied same consignment to his other customers in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi states.

He explained that he was misled by his elder brother into the business, stressing that he regrets his actions.

However SP Muhammad Shehu stated that discreet investigation is in progress with a view to arresting his partners of the crime.