A suspected gunrunner for bandits, Abubakar Ibrahim, 21, whom the police found over N3m in his possession, was on Tuesday remanded in Katsina Correctional Service Centre till September 28, 2021.

Also remanded along with him are Tukur Musa, 35, and Rabe Hamisu, 19.

The suspects, who are residents of the Batsari Local Government Area of the state, were charged with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, and aiding and abetment of an offence to wit; kidnapping.

The offences , according to the police, are contrary to sections 59, 243, 270 and 284 of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021 as amended and Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms Acts, Special Provision Cap R11,LFN 2004.

The police prosecutor, ASP Sani Ado, told the Senior Magistrates’ Court, Katsina, where the men were arraigned on Tuesday that on June 21, 2021, around 1.20 pm, a team of mobile policemen on patrol along the Dutsinma-Tsakiya Road intercepted the suspects, who were riding on two motorcycles, and conducted a body search on them.

Ado stated that the sum of N3,445,000 was found on Ibrahim, who allegedly confessed that the money was what he got from selling AK-47 rifles and 7.62 pieces of live ammunition to bandits inside the Rijana forest along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

Ado told the court that investigation was still in progress on the case, and prayed for an adjournment to a new date when the case would come up for mention.

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The presiding magistrate, Hajiya Fadile Dikko, granted the request and adjourned the case till September 28, 2021 for mention.

She directed that the men be remanded in a correctional service centre till then.

The court also remanded a 25-year-old man, Rabiu Aliyu, alleged to be an informant of bandits and a 60-year-old woman, Fatima Ibrahim, in a correctional service centre till August 25, 2021.

The men, who are residents of the Jibia Local Government Area of the state, were charged with criminal conspiracy, harbouring of criminals, belonging to brigandage, and aiding and abetting of crime to wit; kidnapping.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Lawal Bello, told the court that while Aliyu was strongly suspected to be the mastermind of a bandits’ attack at Kwararam village on May 5, 2021, Ibrahim allegedly provided accommodation for the bandits in her residence on that day before they carried out the attack.

The magistrate granted the request and adjourned the case till August 25, 2021 for mention.

She also directed that Aliyu and Ibrahim be remanded in a correctional centre till then.