By Nasir Malali
The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested key members of the notorious Sai Malam network and suspected bandits operating in parts of the state.
Speaking for the command while parading the suspects, the police Public Relation officer, ASP Abubakar Rufa’i said the two suspected were arrested at Rugar Woro area of Wamakko Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were identified as Abdulrazak Salihu, known as Monosa and Habibu Sahabi, popularly called Habibi, of Rugar Woro.
Police said a search conducted during the operation also led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a big scorpion, two bags containing a large quantity of fake currency notes in naira, dollars and CFA francs, a POS machine, assorted white papers, perfumes, fetish materials and charms, a red scarf believed to be an identifier of the group, five cow horns and a sharp cutlass.
According to the Command, investigations revealed that three other key members of the group Rilwanu Umar, Abdullahi Laro and Musa Abubakar, all of Rugar Woro area are currently at large adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend them.
The Police noted that the items recovered revealed the group’s involvement in diverse criminal activities, including financial fraud, intimidation and the use of charms to instil fear, stressing that the arrests had further weakened the operational capacity of the gang.
In a related development, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit also disrupted banditry and extortion networks in Silame and Yabo Local Government Areas of state.
The Police further arrested Bello Degi of Talaji Village, Silame LGA, who is identified as a key suspect linked to kidnapping and the imposition of illegal levies on communities in Silame and Yabo.
Police said the suspect confessed to participating in kidnapping operations and admitted receiving N50,000 as his share of ransom
three suspects Bello Sahabi, Abubakar Juli and Aliyu Abubakar were arrested in Yabo LGA over alleged conspiracy to extort money from residents of Tudun Bakale community through a threatening letter.
The prime suspect, Ayuba Usman of Kilgori , was later arrested, with additional exhibit.
Police said the suspects had been arraigned in court, while investigations continued to arrest other accomplices.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to public safety and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely information, warning criminals to surrender or face the full wrath of the law.