Security operatives have arrested three men suspected of being part of a bandit group and recovered weapons in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Security sources said the suspects were arrested at about 10 am on April 29 along the Tangaza–Gidan Madi road after intelligence was received about a planned attack in the area.

Sources from the area told Zagazola Makama, a security expert in the North-East region, that the suspects were identified as Aliyu Bello, 30; Dahiru Umar, 25; and Bashar Isah, 29. All three are from Kwazari village in Kware Local Government Area.

According to the sources, the men were stopped while riding a motorcycle and were found to be members of a group involved in kidnapping and forcing communities to pay levies.

Items recovered from them include a locally made AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, two Dane guns, two 32g cartridges and some charms.

The sources said the suspects hid the weapons inside a sack placed in another bag to avoid detection.

They added that investigations are ongoing to uncover other members of the group and prevent further criminal activities in the area.