The Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, also known as Askarawan Zamfara, have arrested and paraded nine suspects, including suspected bandits, a bandit doctor, informants, logistics suppliers and a fake legal practitioner.

The suspects were paraded in Gusau following intelligence-led operations conducted across the state, according to the Commandant of the CPG, retired AIG Shehu Dalijan.

Dalijan said the arrests followed detailed confessions obtained from individuals who were allegedly operating within various criminal camps.

Among those paraded was 20-year-old Abubakar Malan Ori, who allegedly spent months in the camp of notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Gwaska.

According to the commandant, Ori participated in criminal operations across Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states, as well as the Niger Republic.

He reportedly confessed that more than N226 million was collected as ransom from several abductions carried out by the group.

Two other suspects, Mamman Haruna and Aliyu Lawali, allegedly provided details of their involvement in cattle rustling and attacks alongside other notorious bandit leaders.

The CPG also arrested a suspected bandit doctor, Ibrahim Mafindi Titus, who allegedly treated wounded members of criminal groups.

Dalijan said the suspect obtained medical supplies from international sources for the treatment of injured bandits.

Other suspects paraded included alleged informants, logistics suppliers and drug merchants accused of supporting criminal activities in the state.

The command also arrested Mustapha Muhammed, who allegedly impersonated a legal practitioner and extorted money from the relative of a detainee.

According to the CPG, Muhammed allegedly carried out the extortion outside the headquarters of the Community Protection Guards.

Dalijan said the arrests represented a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle the wider support network sustaining banditry in Zamfara.

He added that the operations were intelligence-driven and focused not only on armed bandits but also on individuals providing medical, financial, logistical and information support to criminal groups.