THE Zamfara State Police Command has apprehended 57 suspects for post-election violence.
The police swung to action after violence erupted in the state following the announcement of gubernatorial and House of Assembly election results.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, on Saturday, April 1.
The statement noted that the police had recovered looted and vandalised property in connection with the case.
“It could be recalled that police detectives personally led by the Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, earlier arrested 40 suspects and recovered some of the looted and vandalised property worth millions of naira, which were showcased to the press and later charged to court and remanded in prison (sic).”
The statement said that further investigation by the police led to the arrest of more suspects and recovery of exhibits.
The police mentioned that 17 suspects had confessed to looting the properties of senator Kabiru Marafa.
The statement also said that a suspect, Sulaiman Balarabe, confessed to kidnapping in different communities in the state.
The statement read, “On 29th March, 2023 at about 0330am, police operatives while on patrol acted on intelligence information and arrested the above- named suspect, who was already in the wanted list of the police for banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes against the good people of Zamfara state.”
It added that three suspects were arrested for cattle rustling, and 18 cows were recovered.
“On Friday 31st March, 2023, police while on patrol acted on intelligence information, intercepted and arrested three Toyota buses loaded with suspected stolen cows, sheep and goats from Dansadau to Gusau. On sighting the police, suspects attempted to abandon the vehicles and exhibits to escape, but they were rounded up and arrested by the police operatives,” Shehu said.
The police added that they apprehended one member of Sara, a notorious gang terrorising Gusau and its environs.
According to the statement, investigation was ongoing to arrest other suspects and charge them to court for prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police for the state, Yusuf, reiterated the need for officers to sustain the synergy with other security agencies for effective service delivery.
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