By Uzair Adam Imam
The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a member of the State House of Assembly, a district head, and a former local government chairman in connection with ongoing banditry in the state.
Commissioner of Police Muhammad Dalijan disclosed this during a meeting with Thomas Parker, the officer in charge of the Counterterrorism Unit under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
While the names of the arrested individuals were not disclosed, CP Dalijan emphasized the importance of international support in combating crime in the region.
He appealed to the United Nations to help establish a forensic laboratory in Zamfara to eliminate the need for traveling to Lagos for forensic analyses.
The meeting at the command headquarters in Gusau also discussed the need for training on investigations and the establishment of forensic laboratories to speed up the investigation and prosecution of suspected criminals.
Despite challenges, Dalijan noted a reduction in crime rates in Zamfara due to the concerted efforts of security agencies and Community Protection Guards (CPGs).
The UNODC team has embarked on a three-day stakeholders’ engagement in the state to understand the scope, challenges, and drivers of the insecurity and determine the best methods for addressing the threats.