A soldier and his girlfriend have been arrested by the Nigerian authorities for allegedly supplying ammunition and uniforms to bandits in Zamfara State, the government of the state has announced.
Zamfara located in Nigeria’s northeast, has become the hotbed of mass kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in that region.
Gunmen last week kidnapped at least 279 schoolgirls from a government science school in that state last week, and only released them on Wednesday after lengthy discussions with the state government and other parties.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House Gusau, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Maru, told journalists Friday that that the Army officer and the girlfriend were arrested by the soldier’s colleagues.
“Another issue of topical importance is the recent arrest by the Military of an Army officer and his girlfriend who are engaged in assisting bandits with Military uniforms and ammunition in active connivance with other saboteurs,” Maru said in his address to reporters.
“This arrest was only made possible through community-driven intelligence.”
Governor Bello Matawalle had declared after the schoolgirls’ abduction that Nigerians would be shocked if he revealed the identities of those behind the kidnapping.
Since then several groups and individuals have asked him to reveal the identities of those involved. Maru said the state government was waiting to see the action to be taken by the military authorities in respect of the arrest.
The arrests confirm Matawalle’s position on why banditry has become a thriving business, Maru said. He alleged that there were compromised personnel in the security agencies, pointing out that until the system is cleared of these, it would be difficult to defeat bandits.
“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 until bad eggs and saboteurs among those fighting banditry are cleared, we may not record the desired success in the fight.
“Let me use this medium to salute the courage and patriotism of the individuals who came forward with information that led to the arrest of these traitors.
“Finally, Zamfara State government wishes to call on all media organizations to properly investigate and authenticate their facts before they rush to the press.”
