Traditional Rulers In Zamfara Arrested By The Army For Serving As Bandits Informants

The Nigerian Army have confirmed the arrest of the traditional rulers of Doka and Mutu villages in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The arrest was made by the soldiers of the Nigerian Army affiliated with the Operation Harbin Kunama 3. The traditional rulers were arrested in lieu of their involvement in serving as informants to bandits that have been terrorizing the villages. The Army troops were able to successfully attack and kill six members of the notorious bandits in Kirsa and Sunke villages in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State following an exchange of fire.

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Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, said some two weeks ago that some traditional rulers in Zamfara and the North-West region were assisting some bandits to commit criminal activities. The Zamfara State Council of Chiefs had blatantly denied the allegations.

The Nigerian Army also said that aside the arrest of the chiefs of Doka and Mutu villages whose names were withheld from the public, the army were also able to apprehend 16 other suspected informants to the bandits.

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In a statement released by the The Army, it said: “Troops on Operation Harbin Kunama 3, based on credible intelligence about bandits’ movements in Kirsa and Sunke in the Anka LGA, continued with a clearance operation into the hinterland to clear the brigands.

“Consequently, the troops engaged the bandits in a shoot-out at the bushes of Kirsa and Sunke villages which resulted in the extermination of six criminals, the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and two motorcycles.

“In Doka and Mutu villages in the Gusau LGA, troops also had a serious encounter on Saturday with a group of bandits which lasted for about two hours.

“The brigands were armed with sophisticated automatic weapons, but they were overpowered by the troops, forcing them to flee from their hideouts. Eighteen suspected informants to the bandits were arrested, including the village heads of Doka and Mutu villages.

“The Force Commander, Major General Hakeem Otiki, said the troops would continue to go after bandits in Zamfara and the contiguous states of Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto.”