The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, has confirmed the arrest of a member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Aminu Ibrahim, representing Kaura Namoda State constituency, over alleged banditry and kidnapping.

The Commissioner of Police also explained that the District Head of Kaura Namoda, Jafaru Abdullahi Kumburki and a former chairman of the LGA, Nasiru Muhammad, are in police custody over similar allegations.

According to the Commissioner, three district heads of Danjibga, Bukkuyum and Unguwar Gyauro in Tsafe and Bukkuyum LGAs, whose names have not been made public, are being investigated over the same issues.

Dalijan assured that a preliminary investigation by the police indicated that the district head of Kaura Namoda allegedly connived with two suspected bandits’ collaborators, Bala and Hali Sidi, and kidnapped nine people in Gidan Sambo village in Kaura Namoda LGA.

He said the trio allegedly collected N800,000 ransom before they freed their captives, saying that Ibrahim, the serving lawmaker in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, was arrested over an allegation of involvement in the kidnap of 80-year-old Alhaji Ibrahim Sarkin Fada of Kasuwar Daji village.

Dalijan said, “The former chairman of Kaura Namoda LGA, who is also under detention, allegedly connived with Hali Sidi and the said Alhaji Bala and kidnapped one Alhaji Ango of Kumurya village.”

The police commissioner stated that the district heads of Danjibga, Unguwar Gyauro and Bukkuyum will face an investigative panel set up by the state government over their involvement in banditry activities.

He observed that prior to the formation of the panel, the police had conducted an investigation on the matter and submitted their report to the state governor (Dauda Lawal) for further action, assuring that the police authorities would continue to identify, arrest and subsequently prosecute anybody found participating in banditry and other related crimes.

He said that the investigation is still ongoing and assured that whoever is found directly or indirectly involved in this case will be invited for questioning.