Zamfara State Police Command arrests notorious bandit leader Muhammadu Kan Kani

MEN of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested notorious bandit leader Muhammadu Kan Kani popularly known as Akki in a military-style operation while he was travelling from Kano to Yankara in Katsina State.

Akki, 57, from Kuraje village in Bungudu Local Government Area, is one of the bandits who has terrorised Zamfara State over recent years. Across large swathes of Zamfara, these bandits are the ones in control as they collect taxes, impose their own law and determine what resources are allocated to who.

Repeated attempts by the Zamfara State government to reach an agreement with the bandits and get them to lay down their arms have proved abortive. An amnesty programme under which they will hand in their weapons for cash has also failed to fly, as has attempts by the Nigerian Army to finish them off militarily.

Now, however, there has been a chink of light in the battle as security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed that Akki was arrested on September 17 after credible intelligence led operatives to his location.

According to Mr Makama, officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Zamfara State Police Command of the Nigerian Police Force, supported by their counterparts in Katsina State, intercepted Kan Kani while he was travelling from Kano to Yankara in Katsina State. He said: “The suspect reportedly confessed to being part of the gangs terrorising communities in Tsafe, Yandoto, and Yanwaren Daji.”

Apparently, Akki also admitted to being a member of the Kachalla Dan Goggo Gang, which has been attacking areas like Damba, Mareri and Saminaka in Gusau Local Government Area. According to the police, Akki will face charges in court once investigations are complete.