The Zamfara State government has disclosed that seven security operatives have been arrested for allegedly supplying arms, ammunition, and military kits to bandits in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, who made this disclosure, said the arrest was made by the Zamfara Police Command, adding that the suspects were arrested in various communities across the state.
According to him, items recovered from the suspects include military bulletproof vests, jungle boots, shinguards, 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.”
The commissioner, however, said, “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.
“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 and his girlfriend were arrested for supplying ammunition and uniforms to bandits in Zamfara.
They were arrested in the wake of the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
