TheCable

Officers of the Zamfara police command have arrested one Sa’idu Lawal, identified as a former lance corporal with the Nigerian Army, for allegedly supplying guns to bandits.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Mohammed Shehu, police spokesperson in Zamfara, said 41-year-old Lawal was arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

He said Lawal was arrested while in a Pontiac Vibe vehicle with Lagos registration number KRD 686 CY, on his way to Zamfara.

The police spokesperson described the suspect as a ‘notorious kidnapper, robber and a gunrunner”.

“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,” Shehu said.

“He also confessed that he had previously supplied similar consignment to other customers in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi states.”

Shehu also said one AK-47 rifle, one AK-49 rifle, 200 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition, 501 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition, and eight empty magazines were recovered from Lawal.

Meanwhile, the development comes hours after security operatives rescued 12 persons, including a five-month-old baby, from a hideout for kidnappers in Zamfara.

The Zamfara police spokesperson said the victims were held hostage for over a month in the Kare Kukanka forest, before they were freed.