Zamfara: Police Arrest Bandits’ Kingpin, Neutralise Five Others

A bandit commander, Bello Rugga, has been arrested by the Zamfara State police command, while five others were neutralised during a raid in the Gummi local government area of the state.

The development was disclosed by the Commissioner of police, Ayuba Elkanah while parading Rugga alongside 21 other bandits and their collaborators on Saturday in Gusau, the state capital.

He said, “On Oct. 1, 2021, Police Tactical Operatives on Anti-Banditry Operation around Gummi axis, acted on intelligence reports, stormed Gidan Bita, Malakar and Kagara forest, and arrested one notorious bandit’s commander, Bello Rugga.

“The suspect who happens to be a commander to a wanted bandits gang leader, popularly known as Taraji. Rugga was in charge of Gummi, Gidan Bita, Malanjara and Kagara forest in Gummi LGA of the state.

“He has coordinated series of attacks in the area that led to the unwarranted killings of innocent people and kidnapping of many others for ransom.”

Elkanah disclosed that the bandit leader has many bandits under his command before he was apprehended, adding that AK47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from him.

The commissioner of police also paraded two other bandits collaborators who were arrested while conveying large consignments of drugs, bags of cannabis and petrol to the bandits’ camps.

He further stated that the terrorist also named some other collaborators and points of delivery.

The CP added that security operatives were trailing the suspects.

He noted that the terrorists that were neutralised were among the masterminds of many attacks in different parts of the state especially Zamfara West Senatorial District.

Elkanah said the state had banned vehicles with tinted glasses, tricycles, cabins and riding of motorcycles by more than one person.

The CP noted that the dusk-to-dawn curfew in 13 LGAs is still in force, adding that the curfew in Gusau, the state capital, had been reviewed from 12 midnight to 6:00 am.

Follow Us On Google Journalistic Standards