The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Dalijan, announced the arrest of a sitting member of the State House of Assembly and a former local government chairman for their alleged involvement in banditry.
Banditry has been a significant issue in Zamfara State, contributing to widespread insecurity and disruptions in the lives of the residents.
Dalijan disclosed this information on Wednesday during a meeting with Thomas Parker, the officer in charge of the Counterterrorism Unit under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The meeting took place at the police command headquarters in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. However, Dalijan did not reveal the identities of the arrested lawmaker and former council boss.
During the meeting, Dalijan appealed to the United Nations to assist in establishing a forensic laboratory in Zamfara. He highlighted the challenges faced due to the need to travel to Lagos for forensic analysis. He emphasized the need for a forensic facility in Zamfara similar to what the UN established in Maiduguri, another region in Nigeria facing severe security challenges.
Dalijan also sought the UN’s support in providing training on investigative techniques and in setting up forensic laboratories. This, he argued, would expedite the investigation and prosecution of suspected criminals in the state.
Despite these challenges, Dalijan noted a decline in crime rates in Zamfara. He attributed this improvement to the combined efforts of security agencies and Community Protection Guards, who have been working to expel suspected terrorists relocating from Maiduguri to Zamfara, located in Northwest Nigeria.
Thomas Parker, in his remarks, acknowledged the appeal made by Governor Dauda Lawal to the United Nations for assistance in addressing the state’s security issues. Parker stated that the UN delegation was in Zamfara to gather more information about the security threats the state faces. He informed Dalijan of the UN’s willingness to conduct a thorough assessment of the security situation to understand the underlying causes and challenges, and to determine how best to support Zamfara in mitigating these threats.
