The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Zamfara State has arrested three suspected informants of armed bandits in Anka Local Government Area including two sisters, who are from neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Commandant of the corps in the state, Mr Aliyu Alhaji Garba, said the trio were arrested by officers on surveillance patrol along Bagega road in Anka LGA following credible intelligence report.
The suspects, who confessed to their crimes are Shafiu Abdullahi and two biological sisters Binta and Balki Hussaini, who are from Madawa District of Kwanni of Niger Republic.
The 20-year-old Balki told Caliphate Trust that they first met the bandits in Kauran Namoda local government where they resided with their parents.
She said they became friends with the bandits from that time.
“We normally spend three to five days with bandits inside a forest. We usually use the money we get from them to buy food and to clothe ourselves since our parents are very poor.
“Our father used to fetch firewood from the bush to eke out a living. What he gets from the firewood business is always not enough to take care of the family needs. We also get extra money from a weaving business.
“Our parents know we are into prostitution but they can’t stop us because we have very little money to survive on at home. But this is the first time we travelled to Anka local government in order to meet them inside the forest.”
The other suspect, who is a commercial motorbike rider, Shafiu Abdullahi, said he used to supply food and drinks to an armed bandit known as ‘Shaho’.
He said he delivered the supplies to him in forest about seven times before he was intercepted by the NSCDC personnel when he was trying to deliver the girls to the bandits’ hideout on a motorbike.
The commandant said during our investigation it was discovered that Shafiu has been assisting a suspected notorious leader of cattle rustling and kidnappers gang known as ‘Shaho’ by supplying him with food and other items.
“The two female suspects, Binta and Balki, are also girlfriends to a notorious bandit identified as “Jijji” and he is one of the cattle rustlers terrorising innocent people in Anka Local Government Area.
“Preliminary investigation on the suspects’ activities is completed and the command will soon transfer them to other sister agencies for further investigation and determination,” the commandant, said.
