The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a female gunrunner who specialises in supplying arms and ammunition to bandits operating in the state.
The spokesperson of the Command, SP Mohammed Shehu made this known while addressing newsmen at the police headquarters in Gusau town the state capital at the weekend.
Shehu said the woman, Fatima Sani, 30, of Kaura Namoda LGA, was arrested following an intelligence report that she was bringing arms and ammunition to bandits in Zamfara State from Lafiya town in Nasarawa State.
“On 13th February, 2023 Police detectives arrested the above mentioned female Gunrunner in possession of 325 rounds of live ammunition, following the intelligence information obtained about her movement with the said exhibit from Lafia in Nassarawa state to a notorious bandit’s kingpin herbanating in Zamfara forest,” the statement read.
“In the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to have been into the business and that she had earlier supplied three (3) AK 47 Rifles and one thousand (1000) rounds of AK 47 Live Ammunition to bandits operating within Zamfara. Discreet Investigation is in progress and suspect will be charged to court for prosecution.
Police also arrested a SIM card distributor to bandits with 1,000 SIM cards meant for delivery to bandits in their enclaves across Zamfara State.
“On February 15, upon intelligence that the above-named suspect was seen with an uncountable number of registered MTN SIM cards. Police operatives swung into action arrested the suspect and conducted a spot search, the above exhibits were recovered from him.”
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed that the SIM cards are for sale to customers who are looking for registered sim cards. It is well known to everyone that it is no longer permitted by the NCC to sell registered SIM cards of any network,” the spokesperson said.
He said investigations are in progress with a view to arresting other suspects before being charged to court for prosecution.
