The Police says it has arrested a dismissed officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who has been supplying military camouflage and other accoutrements to bandits terrorising Zamfara State.
According to the Police, Ahmed Mohammed, was attached to the Air Force Base, Kaduna, and only served in the NAF for just five years before he was court-martialled by the military for a yet-to-be-revealed offence.
Police spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, noted that the dismissed NAF personnel introduced sale of military camouflage and other accoutrements to Mushiri Abubakar who had supplied different camps of criminal gangs.
Adejobi said the duo had in the past supplied military camouflage to the notorious bandit, Bello Turji, and his gang members who have been terrorising the state.
Parading the suspects at the headquarters of Special Tactical Squad-Intelligence Response Team in Abuja on Tuesday, Adejobi listed items recovered from both Mohammed and Abubakar as 10 sets of military camouflage uniforms and 10 pieces camel pack.
Other items recovered include: 2 military hats, 3 cardigans, 3 T-shirts, 2 belts and 3 anklets, adding that they were intercepted when they were transporting the items from Kaduna to Zamfara for bandits.
The senior police officer said, “On 20/12/2023 at about 1230hrs the operatives of the FID-STS intercepted the movement of military accoutrements from Kaduna to Zamfara state precisely Shinkafi LGA.
“In the process, a spot search was conducted and the following items were recovered; 10 sets of military camouflage uniforms, 10 pieces of camel pack, 12 military hats, 3 cardigans, 3 t-shirts, 2 belts, and 3 anklets.
“The two suspects were arrested. The Mushiri Abubakar is a childhood friend of one Air Force personnel attached to the Air Force base in Kaduna state who served for only five years before being court marshalled and introduced the idea of selling military accoutrements to Mushiri Abubakar.
“Further investigation revealed that same Mushiri Abubakar had supplied military materials to the Notorious Bello Turji.
Speaking further, the police spokesman told journalists that the operatives had resolved to dismantle the criminal syndicate, particularly those supplying arms and ammunition to bandits before going after the main criminals.
