A former soldier who also provides weapons to terrorists in the northwest state of Zamfara has been apprehended by police.
The suspect, Sa’idu Lawal, is said to have been terrorising communities in Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.
The military arrested him on the Kaduna-Abuja highway. He was on his way to deliver guns to Dogo Hamza, a notorious bandit commander terrorising people in Zamfara State.
Mohammed Shehu, the Police Public Relations Officer, paraded the suspect in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. He said the suspect was apprehended after the Police Tactical Squad and escort team attached to the commissioner of police received credible information.
Mr. Shehu claimed that Lawal had two AK-47 rifles, an AK-49 rifle, 200 live 7.6mm rounds, 501 7.62x51mm bullets, and eight empty magazines retrieved from him.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was conveying the exhibits from Loko Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to his customer, one Dogo Hamza, in Bacha village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
The former soldier was intercepted with a Pontiac Vibe vehicle with Reg. No: KRD 686 CY Lagos, along Abuja – Kaduna enroute Zamfara State.
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“He also confessed that he had previously supplied similar consignment to other customers in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi states,” Shehu said.
The forty-one-year-old suspect also said he was paid N200,000 per trip and has collected N300,000 from his accomplice.
Shehu further stated that police had commenced inquiry towards apprehending Lawal’s accomplices.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command has arrested 19 suspected armed robbers and found 13 suspected stolen vehicles.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Idris Dauda-Dabban, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina.
