Police in Zamfara arrest bandit, spy, recover AK-47, N3.5m

The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old alleged bandit, Isiyaku Babangida, and 39-year-old Usman Umar, alleged to be a member of notorious syndicate that specialises in spying on people who withdraw money from banks.

According to a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Shehu, Babangida was arrested after a failed attempt by his group to attack some communities in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas.

Items recovered from him include two AK47 rifles, two fabricated guns, and 236 a7.62mm rounds of live ammunition.

The statement read in part, “Zamfara Police Tactical Operatives while on Anti Banditry patrol acted on intelligence information about an attempt by a notorious Bandit’s group led by it’s leader, Alhaji Bello to invade and attack some communities in Anka and Bukkuyum LGAs respectively.

“The Police operatives swung into action and moved to the nearby bandit’s enclaves that led to a serious gun battle between the bandits and the Police operatives.

“The superior fire power of the Police successfully dislodged the bandits, a situation that forced them to flee with possible gunshot wounds. One of the most wanted bandits in the Camp called Isiyaku Babangida ‘M’ of Kabe Village of Kebbi State was arrested, while the above mentioned exhibits were recovered at the scene.

“In the course of interrogation, the suspect explained how he and his other group members that bear Ak 47 rifles invaded several villages in Anka, Bukkuyum, Gummi, rustled unspecified number of cattle and kidnapped many innocent people and kept them in captivity until their relations paid ransom.”

“On 23rd September, 2022 at about 1700hrs, a complainant one Nura Umar Shinkafi ‘M’ attached to Zamfara State Investment Office Gusau, reported to the Police that, on same date at about 1630 hours, unknown person(s) broke the left side glass of his Peugeot 406 vehicle with registration number Abuja RSH 531 RD and made away with his bag containing his HP Laptop Black in colour with serial number CND0515RPN, valued two hundred fifty thousand naira (N250,000), one Zamfara State Investment I.D Card and the sum of three million four hundred and seventy three thousand naira (N3,473,000).

“On 5th September, 2022, the Police detectives acted on intelligence information from the Situation Control Room in the Government House, Gusau and arrested the above named suspect.

” In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed that, they have a syndicate that specialises in monitoring customers who withdraw money in cash from banks or any financial transaction centres and then follow them until the money was snatched at all cost. The suspect further stated that he and his syndicate members have on several occasion perpetrated similar crime in Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto States. His confession led to the recovery of the above mentioned exhibit. Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect. Case will be charged to Court as soon as the investigation is completed.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf psc, tasks members of the Public especially who make financial transaction in bank or any financial centres to be conscious of this syndicate and ensure they report any suspicious person (s) to the Police for appropriate action.”