In a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry in Zamfara State, the police have apprehended several high-profile individuals, including a member of the State House of Assembly and a former local government chairman, for their alleged involvement in the criminal activity.
The arrest was announced by the State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Dalijan, during a meeting with Thomas Parker, the officer in charge of the Counterterrorism Unit under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at the police command headquarters in Gusau, the state capital.
While the police commissioner declined to disclose the names of the arrested individuals, he appealed to the United Nations to replicate its successful intervention in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in Zamfara State. He sought the global body’s assistance in providing training on investigation and establishing forensic laboratories to enhance the investigation and prosecution of suspected criminals.
Thomas Parker, the UN official, responded by stating that the organization was in Zamfara State in response to Governor Dauda Lawal’s appeal for assistance in tackling the insecurity plaguing the state. He informed the police that the UN was ready to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the security situation to understand the root causes and challenges and provide support to address the threats.
This significant development comes as Zamfara State has been grappling with banditry for years, resulting in the loss of numerous lives and destruction of properties. The police’s action is seen as a major step towards addressing the menace and restoring peace to the state. The arrest of high-profile persons is expected to send a strong message to other perpetrators of banditry and contribute to the restoration of security in the state.
