In line with the security challenge containment order in the State, the Katsina Police Command has succeeded in intercepting five vehicles being driven into the forest to supply embattled bandits with petrol.
Based on intelligence report, the police team on surveillance in the area were able to intercept them before they could reach the bandits with the fuel.
SP Isah Gambo, the Police Public Relations, Officer, on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba disclosed this while parading the suspects during a press briefing at the police command Headquarters on Monday.
According to SP. Gambo, the police command had observed that scores of irresponsible drivers of small vehicles have been buying petrol in large quantities to take to the forest for the notorious bandits using their vehicles.
While being interrogated, the suspects confessed that they were selling it to the bandits in the forest.
SP. Isah Gambo said: “On the 18/9/2021 based on credible intelligence, the command succeeded in arresting some commuters, especially drivers of small vehicles like Golf, Passat, Peugeot, who are buying fuel in large quantities and going towards Jibiya into the forest to sell to the bandits.
“The arrested suspects are: Lawal Shu’ain’t 32, from Maradi, Niger Republic, conveying fuel in ash colour Passat Motor vehicle, with Reg. No. XML 347 AA.
“Sani Lawal 28, from Magamar in Jibia LGA, conveying fuel in his blue colour Passat motor vehicle, with registration No. KMC 198 XB.
“Abdulrashid Garba 50, of Daddara village, Jibia LGA, conveying fuel in his Golf III, wagon with registration No. AR 719 KTN.
“Tigal Haruna 57, of Kofar Guga Quarters, Katsina, conveying fuel in his Passat motor vehicle with registration number FC 977 LKJ.
“Nemesis caught up with the suspects when they were arrested along Katsina – Jibia road while on their way into the forest.
“In the course of investigation suspects confessed to be selling the fuel at fringes of the forest, contrary to Executive order and other extant laws of the Federation. Investigation is ongoing.”
Similarly, the Katsina Police Command also succeeded in arresting 25-year-old Shafi’u Haruna of Ungwan Nakaba in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State for supplying fuel to bandits in the forest.
According to the Police spokesman, the Police Detectives on surveillance patrol at a filling station in Dandume LGA of Katsina State, observed that the suspect kept coming frequently to buy fuel with a bicycle and after a while he started coming on a motorcycle.
Consequent upon this display, the Police Detectives at the said filling station decided to trail him and in the process discovered that he had some 25 litre gallons hidden in an uncompleted building where he is storing the fuel.
The police detectives arrested him for breaching the security challenge containment order which placed a ban on buying fuel in gallons and limiting the amount of fuel to be purchased on daily basis to N5,000.
In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed that he was piling the fuel to take to the forest for sale.
In the same vein, SP. Gambo also paraded an informant to bandits who specialises in supplying the bandits with bread.
Hamisu Sani 30, of Sabon Garin Motso Motso, Zandam village, Jibia LGA of Katsina State was said to have been warned by both community leaders and security agencies to desist from the illicit business but would not bulge.
However, nemesis caught up with the suspect when he was arrested with some quantity of bread concealed inside a sack while trying to take the bread to the bandits in the forest.
In the course of investigation, he admitted to committing the offence.
(Katsina Post)