Zamfara: Police arrest lawmaker, District Head, ex-LG Chairman over banditry

The Zamfara State Police Command has apprehended several high-profile individuals, including a member of the State House of Assembly, a district head, and a former local government chairman, in connection with ongoing banditry in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Muhammad Dalijan, disclosed this during a meeting with Thomas Parker, the officer in charge of the Counterterrorism Unit under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Although CP Dalijan did not disclose the names of the arrested individuals, he emphasised the importance of international support in combating crime in the region.

He specifically appealed to the United Nations to help establish a forensic laboratory in Zamfara to eliminate the current necessity of travelling to Lagos for forensic analyses.

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During the meeting at the command headquarters in Gusau, the state capital, CP Dalijan highlighted the need for the UN to replicate the support provided in Maiduguri.

He requested assistance for training on investigations and the establishment of forensic laboratories to speed up the investigation and prosecution of suspected criminals.

Despite these challenges, Dalijan noted a reduction in crime rates in Zamfara due to the concerted efforts of security agencies and Community Protection Guards (CPGs).

These measures aim to combat suspected terrorists who have migrated from Maiduguri to Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria.

Thomas Parker, in response, acknowledged the appeal made by Governor Dauda Lawal to the UN for assistance in addressing the state’s insecurity.

He assured that the UN is ready to conduct an assessment of the security situation to understand its causes and challenges and to determine the best methods for addressing the threats.

To that end, the UNDOC team has since embarked on a three-day stakeholders’ engagement in the state to understand the scope, widespread challenges, and major drivers of the insecurity confronting the state and how best it can provide support in addressing the menace.