The Sokoto State Police Command have killed 23 suspected terrorists and arrested over 57 others for various criminal activities including banditry and cattle rustling in three local government areas of the state.

This was made known by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, DIG Ahmed Zaki Gwandu on Monday.

According to the DIG (Operations), the suspects were arrested with 32 AK-47 riffles, two rocket launchers, over 1,000 rounds of life ammunition and sophisticated weapons.

He credited the success recorded during the police special operation to fight against banditry codenamed Operation Sahara Storm.

The police team which comprises the DIG, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 10, AIG Ali Janga, and the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Kamaldeen Okunlola, stated that over 37 of the suspects were apprehended for various acts of terrorism in Rabbah, Goronyo and Illela local governments areas of the state.

Rabbah, Goronyo and Illela local governments have known to be notorious for terrorist attacks.

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Confirming the development, the DIG said the suspects including Musa Mohammed Kamarawa, a 33-year-old ally of the notorious gang leader, Bello Turji, have all confessed to their involvement in the crime of banditry.

One of the suspects, Musa Kamarawa, confessed that he has been working with bandits in the last four years. According to him, he collected the sum of N28 million to purchase a gun truck from the neighbouring Benin Republic.

Other arrested suspects include Abubakar Hashimu, Bammi Alhaji Kiruwa, Zayyanu Abdullahi, Mohammed Aliyu, Hardo Yunusa, Mohammed Dangi, Umar Saidu, Ibrahim Shehu, Samuel Chinedu, Usman Ibrahim, Andi Nnalowe, and Fabrus Abbasi.

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In addition to those apprehended include Mohammed Adamu, Mohammadu Bello, Aminu Umar, Umar Dikko, Garba Jammare, Junaidu Mamman, Ibrahim Aliyu, Rabiu Dari, Abdullahi Aliyu, Shehu Abubakar Yusuf, Jabir Isiyaka, Abubakar Shakau, Maniru Saidu, Ibrahim Adamu and Shehu Adamu.

Other items recovered include over 150 cows and more than 40 cartoons of hard drugs, assorted charms,solar battery chargers with other accessories to aid operations of the suspected criminals.

Also recovered were three trucks in possession of Musa Kamarawa, two of them at Malunfashi in Katsina State and the remaining one was recovered at Ekpoma in Edo State.

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