The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits in connection with the killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps personnel and a string of other criminal activities in Bagudo Local Government Area.
The three FRSC officers were killed during an attack that the police say was part of a broader pattern of banditry in the state. Investigators believe the gang responsible for the deaths has been terrorising communities and targeting security personnel across the local government area.
The police command said the arrests followed intelligence gathering and patrols in the affected communities. Officers tracked down the suspects through information from residents who had grown weary of the constant attacks on their roads and markets.
Officials at the command headquarters in Birnin Kebbi confirmed that the suspects are in custody and assisting with investigations. The police say they are looking into the roles each suspect played in the FRSC killings as well as other crimes, including armed robbery and cattle rustling, that have plagued the area.
The killing of the FRSC officers sent shock waves through the state's security sector. The corps had been ramping up road safety operations across major highways when the personnel were ambushed. Their deaths raised questions about the safety of security personnel operating in bandit-prone areas.
Kebbi has struggled with banditry and kidnapping for years. Armed groups have used forests in the state as hideouts to launch attacks on travellers and communities. The Bagudo area has been particularly volatile, with attacks on both civilians and security operatives reported frequently.
The police command said the arrests represent progress in the fight against organised crime in the state. However, officers acknowledged that more work remains to dismantle the networks operating across the region and bring lasting peace to affected communities.
The suspects will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation. The police command said it would provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.
