In a major escalation of efforts to curb banditry, Zamfara State Police have arrested a member of the state assembly and a district head. The two are suspected of collaborating with bandit groups that have terrorized the region for years.
Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Muhammad Dalijan, announced the arrests on Wednesday while meeting with a UN representative. Dalijan withheld the names of the arrested individuals, citing the ongoing investigation.
This is not the first time prominent figures in Zamfara have faced accusations of links to banditry. Earlier this year, an advocacy group called for authorities to investigate an assemblyman suspected of ties to a bandit who abducted a district head.
Bandit attacks, marked by kidnappings, killings, and mass displacements, have devastated Zamfara and surrounding states. The alleged involvement of high-ranking individuals with these groups underscores the concerning reach of criminal networks in the region.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
