TheCable

The police command in Zamfara says it has arrested one Fatima Lawali, a 30-year-old woman, for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to bandits in the northern part of the country.

Ayuba Elkanah, Zamfara police commissioner, in a statement after parading suspects on Friday, said Lawali was arrested with 991 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition.

Elkanah said the suspect was conveying the ammunition from Dabagi village in Sokoto, where it would be delivered to one Ado Alera, identified as a “notorious bandit kingpin who has been terrorising Zamfara and other states”.

“On 25th October, 2021, at about 0930hrs, Police Tactical Operatives of the Command in collaboration with FIB/STS led by DSP Hussaini Gimba on tactical operations in the state, arrested one Fatima Lawali, ‘F’, a native of K/Namoda LGA who specialised in supplying arms and ammunition to bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger states, respectively,” the statement reads.

“Suspect was arrested at Gada Biyu area, under Bungudu LGA with nine hundred and ninety-one (991) rounds of AK-47 live ammunition conveying from Dabagi village in Sokoto state to be delivered to a notorious bandit kingpin called Ado Alero who has been terrorising Zamfara and neighbouring states. Investigation in progress.”

The commissioner also disclosed that operatives carried out tactical operations at different bandits’ camps in the state, which led to the recovery of 10 AK-47 rifles with magazines containing 143 rounds of live ammunition.

Some suspects were also arrested for banditry, attempted murder, drug trafficking, robbery, kidnapping and rape.