The Zamfara State Police Command captured five notorious bandit leaders at various locations in the state this week.

Among them is a Nigerien, who specializes in supplying sophisticated guns and ammunition to bandits. One of them, while being paraded, demonstrated how he hides his gun in his motorcycle to avoid being arrested by security operatives.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu, said the police recovered four AK-47 rifles and 960 rounds of live ammunition.

He said the suspects, who specialize in high profile crimes ranging from banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery and homicide, have confessed to their crimes.

The group that kidnapped the younger brother of Dr. Dauda Lawal confessed that they collected N20 million ransom while the abductors of Engineer Yahaya Maradun’s daughter said they collected N10 million.

“One of them confessed that they used to share between two, three, four to six hundred thousand naira depending on the number that engaged in the operation,” he said.

Shehu explained that the arrest of the suspected bandit leaders was achieved by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau deployed to the state in collaboration with other operatives.

According to him, statements made by the suspects is assisting the police in their manhunt for their fleeing colleagues.

Abubakar Dauran, the state Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, commended the police and other security agencies for their role in securing the state.