The Zamfara State Government on Friday said a Nigerian soldier and his girlfriend were recently caught supplying ammunition and military uniforms to armed bandits in the state.
The governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, represented by his deputy chief of staff, Bashir Maru, at a press conference, said the soldier was arrested by the military through community-driven intelligence.
He, however, did not provide more details of the alleged incident, saying the state government was waiting for the military authorities to do so.
“The military recently arrested an army officer and his girlfriend who were engaged in assisting bandits with military uniforms and ammunition in active connivance with other saboteurs. This arrest was only made possible through community-driven intelligence.
“While the state government awaits the action the military will take on this matter and make an official statement, the development has further proved the position of Governor Bello Mohammed that unless the fight against banditry is cleansed of bad eggs and saboteurs, we may not record the desired success in the fight.
“Let me use this medium to salute the courage and patriotism of the individual who came forward with information that led to the arrest of these traitors. Our gratitude knows no bounds,” the official said.
Earlier, the governor had, on several occasions, alleged sabotage in the fight against banditry in the state. He said the recent abduction of schoolgirls in Jangebe was politically motivated.
The students were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
“While the state was in negotiation with (the) abductors for the release of the schoolgirls, other persons offered money to the armed bandits to keep the girls in captivity,” the governor said.
The governor said he had relayed the information to the police and relevant security agencies for investigation.
The spokesperson, Defence Headquarters, Onyema Nwachukwu, did not responds to calls and text message seeking his comments on the latest allegation by the governor.
Nigerian police officer arrested for stealing five AK-47 rifles
A police officer, Shedrack Igwe, working in the armoury section of MOPOL Base 28, Umuahia, Abia State, has been arrested with five AK-47 rifles he allegedly stole from the armoury.
Mr Igwe, a constable, was reported to have carted away the rifles from the armoury with the help of others, unnoticed.
He was later arrested in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State where he hails from.
He committed the act on March 2 after which he fled to Ebonyi State.
Two days later, a combined team of police officers from Abia and Ebonyi States arrested and moved him to Abia State Police Command for investigation.
The five AK-47 rifles were recovered from him in his home town.
Mr Igwe is suspected to have stolen many more rifles which he may have sold out.
The officer was said to have used the proceeds from the sales of the stolen rifles for a recent purchase of three new tricycles for commercial purposes. He gave the tricycles to his brother identfied as Ifeanyi Igwe.
An official in one of the security agencies in Ebonyi State said, “The development portrays lack of proper vetting and supervision on the side of the Nigerian police because the subject was just a constable and was not supposed to be manning a sensitive section like armoury in a security agency like the police.
“And the position was given to him without a proper examination of his character and supervision. Hence, the reason for the blames on the agency”.
The police spokesperson in Abia State, Geoffrey Ogbonna, declined to comment on the matter when the media contacted him, Friday.
“I am in a meeting, I just pulled out to answer this call,” he said, without confirming or denying the story.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, however, confirmed the report.
“This thing is for Abia State, it is good you ask Abia State Police Command, we only assisted them. So, you will get the whole story in Abia.
“Yes, it is a combination of action and necessary things. Get Abia, Abia will give you the necessary things, we only assisted,” he said.
