Police in Kebbi State have taken five men into custody following a coordinated operation along the Zuru–Tadurga route, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months.
Security officials confirmed that the suspects are believed to be linked to violent raids on communities within the Zuru axis.
Police spokesman CSP Nafiu Abubakar stated that the arrests mark “a decisive step toward dismantling the network behind the recent disturbances.”
All five suspects, identified as Bako Aliyu, Sani Alaramma, Umaru Tafsi, Mamman Sani Danzakara, and Lawali Sani, are said to hail from Birnin Tudu village in Bukkuyum and Gummi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.
Their movement across state lines, according to security analysts, has long complicated efforts to curb banditry in the North-West.
During the operation, officers recovered a significant cache of weapons.
Items seized included seven fabricated AK-47 rifles, a locally crafted pistol, three Dane guns, three AK-47 magazines, dozens of live rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition, and 46 cartridges. Investigators also found N2,623,900 in cash, believed to be proceeds from criminal activities.
CSP Abubakar described the haul as “evidence of an organised structure with access to weapons and funding,” adding that the breakthrough would help uncover deeper links within the network.
The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Birnin Kebbi.
Police authorities say the next phase of the probe will focus on tracing their collaborators and understanding the group’s operational strategy.
Security officials insist that more arrests are expected as surveillance intensifies across border communities.