Zamfara guards arrest bandit doctor, lawyer, informants

The Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, also known as Askarawan Zamfara, have arrested nine suspected members and associates of criminal gangs operating in the state.

The suspects, paraded in Gusau, included alleged bandits, informants, logistics suppliers, a suspected medical practitioner who treated wounded bandits and a man accused of impersonating a legal practitioner.

The Commandant of the CPG, retired AIG Shehu Dalijan, disclosed the arrests during the parade on Wednesday, saying they followed intelligence-driven operations conducted across Zamfara.

Dalijan said information obtained from suspects believed to have operated within criminal camps helped security operatives uncover details of the activities and support networks of the gangs.

One of the suspects, 20-year-old Abubakar Malan Ori, allegedly spent several months in the camp of the notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Gwaska.

According to the commandant, Ori confessed to participating in criminal operations across Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states, as well as the Niger Republic.

His confession, Dalijan said, provided information on ransom collections from several kidnapping operations, with more than N226 million allegedly received by the gang.

Two other suspects, Mamman Haruna and Aliyu Lawali, were also paraded over their alleged involvement in cattle rustling and attacks carried out alongside other notorious bandit commanders.

The security operation also uncovered part of the network providing medical support to the criminal groups, with Ibrahim Mafindi Titus identified as an alleged bandit doctor.

Dalijan said Titus treated wounded members of the gangs and obtained medical supplies from international sources to support his activities.

Other suspects reportedly arrested during the operations were linked to alleged roles as informants, logistics suppliers and drug merchants.

The CPG also paraded Mustapha Muhammed, accused of impersonating a legal practitioner and allegedly collecting money from the relative of a detainee outside the CPG headquarters.

Dalijan said the arrests demonstrated the importance of intelligence gathering in dismantling not only armed criminal groups but also the networks that provide them with information, medical care, supplies and other forms of support.

He said investigations into the suspects and their alleged activities were ongoing.