Zamfara: Police in gun battle with bandits, kill one, arrest informant

By Ishaq Zaki

Police operatives have arrested a a 35-year-old suspected female informant after a gun battle with bandits who attacked its Divisional Station in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara state.

Spokesperson for Zamfara Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar told journalists in Gusau on Friday that a bandit was also killed during the encounter.

He said the police operatives attached to the police station acted on credible intelligence that a group of armed bandits was planning to carry out the attack.

“The police operatives mobilised, confronted the bandits and engaged them in gun battle which lasted for hours

“As a result of this, one of the bandits was neutralised while the others escaped to the bushes spilling blood on their paths because of the wounds they sustained.

“Police investigation that followed the incident resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old female suspected to be an informant from Rukudawa village.

“The suspect confessed that she has been working with bandit kingpin Dankarami Gwaska as his informant and has given her the task of monitoring activities at the police stations for him.

“Two handsets containing bandits’ telephone numbers were recovered from her,” Abubakar said.

“On July 28 Police Tactical Operatives attached to 34 PMF, deployed to Magarya community in same Zurmi local government area acted on intelligence report that suspected armed men were on their way to attack Muslims during Juma’at prayers at Kwata village in Magarya district.

“The police operatives confronted them and succeeded in foiling the attack and the bandits escaped to the bushes.

“Two AK47 rifles, four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and Bajaj motorcycle were recovered at the scene while the command is still pursuing the suspects with a view to arresting and prosecuting them.

“On July 27 at about 1330hrs, Police Tactical Team attached to Area Command Gusau acted on intelligence that led to the arrest of two suspected bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the Saminaka area in Gusau Metropolis,” the command’s spokesman added.

(NAN)