Juliana Francis
The Nigeria Police has
uncovered how terrorist groups in Nigeria fund their organizations and procure
arms from Libya to destabilize the country.
The intricate terrorist network
was uncovered by a crop of detectives attached to the Inspector-General Special
Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba
Kyari.
The police are also
theorizing that arms running deals were partly the cause of the bloodbath that
had enveloped Zamfara State for long. Hundreds of people have been killed within
Tsafe, Zurmi, Shinkafi, Maradun, Maru and Brinin-Magaji local government areas
of Zamfara State, leaving many others displaced.
The terrorists’ arms
running and source of funding were discovered after 12 bandits, who
participated in the October 2018 kidnapping of twin sisters, Hassana and
Hussaina Bala were arrested.
The twin sisters were
abducted in Dauran village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where
they went to distribute their wedding invitation.
A ransom of N15million was
paid before the girls were released. One of the suspects arrested in connection
with the abduction, Nafiu Usman, alias Baba Doctor, a top commander of a group
of bandits operating in Zurmi, made startling confessions.
In his confessions,
Usman revealed how his boss, Dankarimi, who command all bandits within Zurmi Local
Government Area, had been procuring arms and getting
funds.
For long, Zamfara State
has become a war zone, with people being killed everyone. This forced the
police hierarchy to deploy selected teams of police to the area, including
operatives of IRT.
The operatives disclosed
that investigations have shown that the top grade military arms and ammunition,
which were used in most of the killings in Zamfara State were bought in Libya.
A police source said: “
These suspects and their partners are into high profile kidnappings and armed
robbery. They get large chuck of their funds from proceeds of cattle rustling.
The rustled cows are supplied to cattle dealers at the Abattoir Market in Agege,
Lagos State.
“When these funds are
remitted to bandits in Zamfara State, it will be swiftly moved into Agadez
Region of Niger Republic, where it will be used to procure heavy arms including
anti-aircraft guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, from black markets
in Libya.”
It was further disclosed
that the arms, which were usually smuggled into Zamfara State, through Niger
Republic border, had been used several times to attack and kill security
operatives.
The source noted that on
November, 29, at least 15 policemen, who were part of the anti-rustling team
deployed to the state, were ambushed and killed by gunmen who attacked with
Anti-Aircraft guns mounted on Toyota Hilux trucks.
The source further
disclosed: “Baba Doctor, who is a sub commander with over 300 boys, mostly from
Niger Republic, confessed that his group, headed by Dankarimi was behind the
kidnapping of the twin sisters.
“He said that the
N15million received was shared among commanders working for Dankarimi. Baba
Doctor got N500, 000, which he shared with his boys. He also confessed
that his group ambushed and killed a team of soldiers on patrol at the Doburu
Forest on December 29, 2018. They attacked the soldiers with rocket propelled
grenade. According to him, they bought the weapons from Libya through
Niger Republic. He identified one ‘Alhaji Naira’ as the person who used to provide
the funds use in buying arms.”
Baba Doctor narrated
that all sub-commanders of Dankarimi, who he said live in forest, go around
town rustling cows, which they later hand over to Alhaji Naira.
Naira in turn sends the
cows to waiting buyers in Agege Abattoir Market in Lagos State. After killing
and selling the cows, the money goes back to Dankarimi through Naira.
After his arrest, Baba
Doctor led IRT operatives to arrest Naira, who then revealed the names of four
of their receivers in Lagos State known as Alhaji Ago Atine, Alawani Abubakar,
Mohammed Shagari and Bashiru Aliyu.
“We arrested them while
they were selling some of the buttered cows, which were rustled in Zamfara
State,” said the police source.
The suspects, from Zamfara
State, admitted to have bought over 2000 cows from bandits within the space of
one year.
The suspects admitted
knowing that the cows were stolen. They also confessed to being aware that
those they buy cows from were bandits, stealing cows in Zamfara State.
Alhaji Ago Atine, 50, said:
“I have received over 400 cows from Alhaji Naira from Zamfara State. I sell
them at Abattior Market, after which I send money back to Alhaji Naira. I
accepted cows from Alhaji Naira because they are usually cheap. I buy the cows between
N60, 000 and N70, 000. I sell for N170, 000 and 180,000, depending on the
size. I receive cows weekly, and after selling them, I send money into
Alhaji Naira’s account. I don’t know what Alhaji does with money. I know
the cows were stolen from their owners in Zamfara State. But I don’t know
if they use the proceeds to wage war against Zamfara State citizens.”
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