Police Arrests 2 For Extorting Residents In Guise Of Providing Security In Zamfara

The Police Command in Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, on Thursday, Aug. 18 arrested two suspects for extorting up to N5 million from residents under the guise of facilitating the deployment of security agents to Yar-Katsina community in Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The suspects, Lawali Musa, 36, and Jamilu Isah, 40, are from Jangebe and Yar-Dole areas of Talata-Mafara and Gusau LGAs respectively.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Zamfara State Police Command, Mohammed Shehu: “the arrest of the two suspects came following a complaint received from members of ‘Yar-Katsina community in Bungudu LGA against the principal suspect Lawali Musa, who deceitfully extorted  the community of the sum of N5 million.”

The principal suspect confessed to have collected the sum of N5 million from the community in order to assist them in ensuring security agents are deployed to their area.

On the other hand, “the second suspect Jamilu Isah confessed that the sum of N800,000 was deposited into his account,” the Police said in a statement signed by Shehu.

The Command reiterated its stand that deployment of security operatives to  villages and communities was purely free of charge, saying “residents should not  allow any person or group of persons to deceive them in the name of securing deployment of security operatives to their areas. Instead, they should reach out to the Police or any relevant authority regarding the general security of their areas.”

However, for a while, the residents of ‘Yar-Katsina have suffered from terror attacks due to the continuous absence of security operatives.

In their desperation, a resident, Jamilu Musa, said they paid “several visits to our lawmaker who represents us at Zamfara State Assembly and office of the State Police Commissioner, including the Bungudu Emirate Council since February, 2020 pleading for deployment of armed security personnel to our areas, but nobody listened to our plea. 

“We suffer killings, abductions, rape, and rustling of our animals almost every day by the parading assailants in our respective communities. They enjoyed absolute freedom and impunity in the conduct of their atrocious activities in our homes in broad daylight.” 

Musa added that all the security agencies operating in Bingi, Yar-Katsina, and Dankiko have been withdrawn from those areas. “We do not know the reason,” he said. 

When contacted, Shehu told HumAngle that “Zamfara Police Command is tirelessly working hard in ensuring security in the area.” He pointed out that the police still come to those areas for patrol.