Army officer ‘supplying ammunition and uniform to bandits’ arrested in Zamfara

Zamfara government says an officer of the Nigerian Army supplying ammunition and uniforms to bandits has been arrested in the state. 

The bandits terrorising the state are often seen in military fatigues. 

At a press conference on Friday, Bashir Maru, deputy chief of staff to Bello Matawalle, governor of the state, said the military arrested the officer alongside his girlfriend, following community driven-intelligence. 

“The military recently arrested an army officer and his girlfriend who were engaged in assisting bandits with military uniforms and ammunition in active connivance with other saboteurs. This arrest was only made possible through community-driven intelligence,” he said.

“While the state government awaits the action the military will take on this matter and make an official statement, the development has further proved the position of Governor Bello Mohammed that unless the fight against banditry is cleansed of bad eggs and saboteurs, we may not record the desired success in the fight.

“Let me use this medium to salute the courage and patriotism of the individual who came forward with information that led to the arrest of these traitors. Our gratitude knows no bounds.” 

Mohammed Yerima, army spokesperson, was not immediately available to comment on the arrest. 

In February, hundreds of schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talatu-Mafara LGA by bandits. The girls were released about 10 days after their abduction.