Suspected supplier of foodstuffs, drugs to bandits arrested in Kwara
A 36-year-old man suspected of attempting to deliver drugs, foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages to bandits has been apprehended in Patigi town, Kwara State. The suspect, identified as Yaman Patigi, was allegedly intercepted over the weekend while reportedly en route to a suspected bandits’ hideout within Patigi Local Government Area. He has since been handed over […]
A 36-year-old man suspected of attempting to deliver drugs, foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages to bandits has been apprehended in Patigi town, Kwara State.
The suspect, identified as Yaman Patigi, was allegedly intercepted over the weekend while reportedly en route to a suspected bandits’ hideout within Patigi Local Government Area.
He has since been handed over to the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ilorin for further investigation.
Items allegedly found in his possession included hard drugs, cartons of alcoholic drinks, packets of cigarettes, spaghetti and other food supplies. Local sources claim the suspect was conveying the items to criminal elements terrorizing communities in the area.
However, Yaman reportedly told community leaders he was only taking the supplies to Fulani residents in a remote village.
Reacting to the development on Monday, a community elder, Mr. Muhammed Ndako, confirmed the handover to security operatives but expressed uncertainty over the suspect’s real intentions.
“Sometimes, we hear that herders are victims of bandits’ attacks; at other times, they are accused of aiding them. It’s now difficult to distinguish both but the good thing is that he has been arrested and we can only await the outcome of the DSS investigation,” Ndako said.
The chairman of Patigi Local Government Area, Ahmed Rufai, on Monday, said the incident remained under investigation.
“The man was caught with food and other supplies heading toward an area suspected to be a bandits’ hideout. We’ve instructed that he be handed over to the appropriate authorities for proper investigation,” Rufai stated.
Security sources remain tight-lipped on the incident, but reports suggest the Nigerian Army is preparing to launch sustained clearance operations in affected parts of the local government area to dislodge armed elements hiding in the region.