Men of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested a notorious bandit while on a patrol at Kwarkwaron Manu, Basawa, in the Zaria Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesman in the state, DSP Mohammad Jalige, identified the bandit as 33-year-old Bilyaminu Saidu of Shuwaki village, in the Bakori LGA of Katsina State.
Jalige, in a statement on Sunday, said the police recovered four AK-47 rifles, 344 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 10 telephone handsets, as well as charms from the suspect.
The police spokesman said, “On December 23, 2022, around 5.30pm, operatives attached to Tudun Wada, Zaria, while on a surveillance patrol at Kwarkwaron Manu, Basawa, Zaria, intercepted two men on an unregistered motorcycle with bags concealed in a suspicious manner on the motorcycle.
“On being flagged down for a search, the motorcycle passenger jumped down and fled, thereby heightening the suspicion of the eagle-eyed operatives.
“The motorcycle and the rider who gave his identity as Bilyaminu Saidu, were immediately subjected to a thorough search which led to the recovery of the following items inside the bags: four AK-47 rifles, 344 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 10 telephone handsets and charms.
“The arrested suspect has accordingly been taken into custody and preliminary investigation revealed that he and his fleeing accomplice were on a nefarious mission to supply his gang with the weapons.”
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, had ordered a comprehensive investigation to unearth the source and destination of the illicit arms and the arrest of the suspect’s criminal cohorts.