The Niger State command of the Nigeria Police Force says they have succeeded in arresting a village head of Guiwa village, Garba Mohammed, in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
The police say he was arrested for screening and aiding terrorism activities, using his house as a hideout with the recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle.
The spokesperson of the Police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, confirmed in a statement that the arrest followed clearance operations targeting terrorists’ and kidnappers’ hideouts in the Mashegu area.
According to him, on May 22, police operatives and vigilante members conducted clearance operations in some identified kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA, such as Magaman-Daji forest and its environs, and in the process, most of the suspected kidnappers fled from the scene and others were believed to have escaped with gunshot injuries.
Abiodun added that as a result of the intense operations, on May 23 at about 9 a.m., in continuation of the operation, the team stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible information received, and the Mai-Angwan of Guiwa village, Garba Mohammed, was arrested for screening and aiding banditry activities, using his house as a hideout with recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle.
The police image maker further added that thirteen others were also arrested in different locations within Mashegu LGA for similar reasons.
However, they are under interrogation and investigation is in progress to ascertain their roles and involvement in banditry activities in the area.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie