Zamfara police arrest former Army Corporal turned kidnapper with AK-47, AK-49 rifles

The Zamafara State Police Command has arrested a 41-year-old former Army Corporal, Sa’idu Lawal on suspicion of armed robbery, gunrunning and other crimes.

It was learnt that prior to his arrest, he had reportedly been disturbing the peace and security of the state and other neighbouring ones, including Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Mohammed Shehu, said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle with breech number Q971987, AK-49 rifle with breech number 34-7094; 200 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition, 501 rounds of 7.62X51mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) live ammunition and eight empty magazines from the suspect.

Speaking with newsmen on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, Shehu stated that the Police Tactical/Escort Team attached to the police chief acted on intelligence, leading to his being nabbed on Saturday, August 27 at about 5:30 pm.

The PPRO also revealed that Lawal was an ex-Corporal in the Nigerian Army attached to 73 Battalion Janguza, Army Barracks, Kano.

“The suspect was intercepted while in a Pontiac Vibe vehicle with registration number KRD 686 CY Lagos, along Abuja-Kaduna, en route Zamfara State.

“A search was conducted on the spot and all the exhibits mentioned were recovered in his possession.

“In the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was to convey the said exhibits from Loko Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to his customer, one Dogo Hamza of Bacha village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.

“The suspect further confessed that he had previously supplied the same consignments to his other customers in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi States respectively.

“Discreet investigation is in progress with a view to arresting his partners of this dastardly crime,” SP Shehu stated.