*The Zamfara State Government reveals the affected civil servants were among the 35 suspects apprehended in Gusau, the state capital

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

In what appears like insiders鈥� job in the seemingly ceaseless banditry and reign of lawlessness in North-West Nigeria, the Zamfara State Government has disclosed that some civil servants being paid with tax payers鈥� money have been arrested for banditry in Gusau, the state capital.

绿帽献妻 reports the North-West state is one of the regions worst affected by banditry, kidnapping and terrorist activities in the country in recent times.

Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, Honourable Commissioner for Information, in Zamfara State, in a statement Wednesday, April 28 disclosed that the civil servants were among 35 suspects apprehended in Gusau, the state capital.

The Commissioner said: 鈥淚t was surprising to note that, all the 35 suspects were arrested in Gusau, the state capital and some of them civil servants,鈥� the statement said.

鈥淭he State Government therefore expressed delight over the arrest of the 35 bandits terrorising people within the Gusau metropolis.鈥�

According to the State Government, the criminals 鈥渉ave since been interrogated and have confessed to their various crimes and have already been transferred to Abuja for further action before prosecution.鈥�

The statement noted that the 鈥済overnment therefore, seriously warn bandits to renounce the criminality and embrace the state government dialogue and peace initiative to become good citizens.

鈥淭he government intention to take punitive measures against criminals, as a matter of urgency,鈥� it said.

Dosara stated: 鈥淭he state government also strongly warn traditional rulers to keep vigil eyes to landlords who give out their houses to people with suspicious character within their domains, as government will soon start to arrest any landlord found giving out his or her property on rent to bandits, kidnappers, informants and dealers of weapons for the bandits.

鈥淕overnment will not hesitate to demolish any house given out on rent to criminals.鈥�

鈥淭he action follows several calls by concern citizens both within and outside the state, to lift the ban to allow the common man have access to his basic needs during the holy month of Ramadan. The affected markets are Magami, Wanke, Dansadau and Dauran.鈥�

The statement further said: 鈥淭he four markets were ban from any activities last week following attacks and killing of innocent people within the affected communities.鈥�

Meanwhile, the state government has said it lifted the ban on commercial activities on four markets in the state.

In a related development, operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency comprising of Amotekun Corps in collaboration with Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) have arrested six suspected bandits in Kajola Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The suspects were arrested during a joint patrol routine at about 4a.m. Thursday, April 29, along two separate routes within the LGA, they also mounted two illegal roadblocks in separate incidents.

Col. Olayinka Olayanju (Rtd.), Commandant of the Amotekun in Oyo State, in a statement disclosed that the suspects tried to escape from the scene, but were 鈥済iven hot pursuit by the operatives as they tried to evade arrest.

The statement listed the suspects, namely Awali Atine, Ibrahim Abu, Shuaib Balau, Ibrahim Musa, Abdullah Masika, and Umar Aliu Masika, who were arrested along Okeho-Ilua and Okeho-Iseyin Road.

He stated that the bandits whose mode of operation is to pretend as herdsmen in the day and violently robbed innocent passengers on the highways at night were caught with 183 cows, weapons, and a total sum of N268, 470.00.

Olayanju said the suspects had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Authority Okeho Divisional HQ alongside the 183 herds, weapons, and money found in their possession for further investigation.

The Amotekun Commandant said: 鈥淲e are still on the trail of others who managed to escape from the scene.鈥�

He urged those who may have the necessary information that could help law enforcement agencies in their investigation to cooperate and report to the nearest police authority for proper investigation.