An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been detained by the Zamfara State Police Command on suspicion of providing narcotics, weapons, and ammo to criminals in the state.
This was revealed by Mohammed Dalijan, the state commissioner of police, at the suspect parade at the command centre in Gusau, Zamfara State. Two wives of well-known bandit leaders and a phoney doctor were among those detained; they were reportedly on their way to provide the bandits more weapons.
The head of police claimed that a significant amount of illegal narcotics, including cannabis, as well as ammunition, including AK-47 and anti-aircraft shells, had been found on the NSCDC officer, named as ACS II Maikano S/Tasha. Maikano was already detained two years prior, but was later released, according to CP Dalijan. Dalijan promised that under his supervision, Maikano would not elude justice this time.
“One of the unfortunate incidents we are dealing with is the arrest of a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps officer found in possession of arms and drugs intended for delivery to bandits in the Mada area. He has been arrested with ammunition and Indian hemp, which he was transporting to the bandits in the bush. He is a collaborator and will be treated as such.”
The command also detained Mamuda Sani Makakari, a phoney physician, according to the police, who was discovered in possession of 441 live rounds of ammunition. Examining further showed that Makakari had been treating the bandits without any official medical training.
Along with a number of women and children, he was captured while transporting live ammo to be given to robbers in the Anka Local Government Area.
Wives of well-known bandit commanders, such as Bello Kaura and Kachalla Jijji, were among the women in custody.
“These women were apprehended while on their way to deliver ammunition to bandits in Anka and Bukkuyum,” said CP Dalijan.
The state’s growing use of women wearing headscarves to transport weapons and ammunition alarmed the police commissioner.
“Our main concern now is the involvement of women in hijabs in smuggling weapons to the bandits. We are left with no choice but to search all women travelling in the state, regardless of whether they are wearing a hijab,” he explained. “We will ensure that women search women, but any woman on our roads must undergo thorough checks.”
CP Dalijan further disclosed that the husbands of the ladies in custody had threatened to take revenge on local communities and law enforcement agencies if the women were not freed.
“We are taking measures to protect our personnel and the public from potential attacks. The women will not be released under any circumstances. If they [the bandits] attack, we will respond accordingly,” the commissioner said
