Proliferation of forearms and running are major issues fueling banditry in Zamfara State where terrorists brazenly wreak havoc on unsuspecting locals.
Over 200 people reportedly died in Anka local council over the weekend. And all the killings were done using sophisticated guns mostly coming from different parts of the country and even the neighbouring countries, according to a podcast by Daily Trust.
On Sunday, the Zamfara State Police Command says it neutralised two gun runners following an extensive gun battle along Gummi – Anka road while conveying arms from Taraba State to terrorists’ camps in Zamfara.
READ: Bandits Kill Three on Zamfara Highway
Mohammed Shehu, spokesperson for the command in a statement sent to WikkiTimes said the police also recovered a Toyota Corolla vehicle containing three live shells for rockets, three explosive shells, and 151 rounds of live ammunition.
Other items recovered include “four AK47 rifles, 200 rounds of live ammunition for anti-aircraft rifle and some assorted charms,” said the spokesman.
“On 7th January 2023, Police Tactical Operatives successfully neutralised two (2) Gun Runners along GUMMI – ANKA Road following an extensive gun duel that lasted for hours between the Police and the gun runners, while conveying sophisticated arms and ammunition to terrorists camp in Zamfara all the way from Taraba state,” Shehu stated.
READ: Zamfara Councilor Sold to Terror Leader, Dogo Gide for N10m — He Tripled the Ransom
He added that two of the suspects were fatally injured and later confirmed dead by a doctor while others escaped to the bush with gunshot wounds.
GUNRUNNING IN ZAMFARA
Shehu Umar, a correspondent of Daily Trust in Zanfara said the influx of guns from neighbouring states, as well as gun running, is “seriously” affecting the security situation in the state.
“Last year, a gun runner who was an ex-serviceman was intercepted along Abuja – Kaduna highway convening AK47 riffles and some ammunition to Zamfara State’s bandits,” he said. “There is a general notion that the arms used to kill innocent people in Zamfara State are mostly brought from neighbouring states in the Northeast and North Central, and sometimes from Niger Republic.”
He noted that the weekend incident was a serious one as the gun runners refused to be checked by police and attempted to escape before being gunned down.
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It is surprising that figures expected to be responsible for the protection of defenceless citizens are the culprits behind the gun-running for monetary games, Umar lamented.
Dahiru Sama’ila, a resident, said gun-running is a common thing in the state. “To be honest, this is not a new thing in Zamfara State, it’s like a business, and bandits know they can operate in the state freely that is why bandits from other places are trooping to the state.”
He said commuters are not safe on most of the roads linking the state to others. “We are not safe,” he told the medium.
READ: Bandits Kill 20, Abduct Scores in Zamfara Over Missing Rifles
A security expert who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel argued that every riffle is registered and attached to security personnel, and the police must check where the guns come from. “There is no arm that is not registered. Let police check where these arms are coming from,” said the expert.
She added that the checkpoints must stand to their feet to checkmate the suspecting passers thoroughly. “Let a checkpoint be a checkpoint,” she said.
