Police recover 20 rifles, 2,734 cows from rustlers in Zamfara

Zamfara State police command has recovered 20 Ak 47 rifles and 2,734 cows from armed bandits in recent times, the state police commissioner Mr Shaba Alkali has said.

He made the statement while welcoming a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Maigari A. Dikko who was in the state on a one day official visit.

Alkali said about 1,000 armed bandits have renounced armed banditry and cattle rustling and have since surrendered large cache of arms to the security operatives in the state.

He said about 105 camels and other domestic animals were also recovered from the rustlers by the command adding that 79 suspects were arrested and charged to court.

Mr Alkali further explained that few days after some armed bandits denounced crime and surrendered their arms, they arrested deviants ones among them and handed them over to the police and this was coming after the discovery of 53 locally made firearms in Tsafe LGA.

“The menace of armed banditry and cattle rustling has drastically reduced following peace intervention supported by the state government and other stakeholders, therefore relative peace is gradually returning to the rural communities,” he said.

He then expressed the challenges being faced by the command which include Communication, Manpower and Logistics.

Responding, DIG Dikko said the Nigeria Police Force would look into the problems outlined to ensure that the state police command carries out it duties effectively.