Police declare Zamfara traditional ruler wanted for allegedly sponsoring bandits

– The Nigerian police said the traditional ruler of a community in Zamfara is currently on the run

– The ruler, who has been declared wanted, fled after he was linked with bandits in the community

– He and his collaborators collected N10 million ransom from kidnapped victims

Zamfara state government has declared wanted the district head of Ruwan Jema in Bukkuyum local government area, Alhaji Mohammed Sani, saying he has been on the run for months now.

Speaking at a press briefing in Gusau on Friday, the state commissioner of local governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Dankande said the traditional ruler was implicated in the onslaught of innocent citizens by bandits in the state.

According to him, investigations had proved that the district head was among the traditional rulers who refused to heed to several warnings by the state government on traditional rulers not to mingle with the bandits.

He explained that the district head abandoned his royal house and his subjects for over three months when he learned that security operatives were planning to pick and question him over his involvement with the bandits, NAN reports.

The commissioner noted that a drag net had already been spread to arrest the district head.

Similarly, the commissioner said the village head of Gurbin Bore in Zurmi local government area, Alhaji Bello Magaji had been confirmed to have participated in the kidnap of seven family members of the state’s Commissioner of Youth, Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbin Bore.

He said that the village head and his collaborators collected N10 million ransom before releasing their victims after two weeks in captivity.

Dankande explained that in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the village head fell apart with his fellow kidnappers who only gave him N800, 000 instead of the agreed 10 per cent of the total sum which is N1 million.

“The village head had also been removed from his position and would be prosecuted in a court of law along with six other traditional rulers accused of the same offence.”

The commissioner said the state government in collaboration with security agencies were still investigating some traditional rulers suspected of banditry and if found guilty would be removed and prosecuted.

“The state government thanked the general public in the state for supporting security agencies with information leading to the arrest of bandits and dislodgement of their hideouts,” he added.

TRACK NEWS earlier reported that the Nigeria Police Force on Friday, November 30, declared that it has killed 104 armed bandits during an attack on Mahanga forest in Birnin Mogaji local government area of Zamfara state.

A statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, in Abuja said 50 hideouts in three camps belonging to the bandits were also destroyed.