) The Zamfara Police Command has warned the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to avoid intervening in security issues.
The State Police Commissioner, Usman Nagogo issued the warning in Gusau on Thursday at a press conference while reacting to a protest by some APC members at the Police headquarters on Sunday in Gusau.
The protest was over alleged illegal arrest of 18 APC members by the police.
The police had said that the 18 people were arrested over their alleged meeting with some repentant bandits.
The police commissioner said the arrest of Alhaji Habu Dantabawa and 17 others was a proactive measure by the police to curtail any act of banditry and related criminality in the state.
“On the 12th September 2020, the police on intelligence and credible information got wind that certain individuals were holding a meeting with some leaders of repentant bandits with a view to entice them with monetary and other incentives in order to go back to the forests and return to the dark days.
“No responsible security architecture will fold it’s arms and wait until a carnage is meted to the citizens of the state before they act”, Nagogo said.
He accused the protesters of “rascality”, saying their actions were inimical to peace and security in the state.
“They attempted to destroy any evidence that is likely to influence the outcome of the investigation,” he claimed.
“The implications of invasion of the state command headquarters was to set an example of unprecedented uncivilized manner of expressing perceived grievances.
“The police were patient and persuasive to end the barbaric act by using alternative dispute resolution to end the invasion of the police headquarters in the name of protest”, he explained.
“At this juncture, let me sound a word of warning that any attempt to display uncivilized behavior in the police headquarters or anywhere in the state will be dealt with squarely according to the laws of the land”, he added.
