Kwara man arrested for alleged supply of drugs, foodstuffs to bandits
A 36-year-old man, Yaman Patigi, was arrested in Patigi town, Kwara State, on suspicion of attempting to deliver drugs, foodstuffs, and alcoholic beverages to bandits.
The apprehension took place over the weekend as he was reportedly heading towards a suspected bandits’ hideout within the Patigi Local Government Area.
Yaman has since been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ilorin for a thorough investigation. Authorities discovered hard drugs, cartons of alcoholic beverages, packets of cigarettes, and various food supplies in his possession. Local sources suggest that these items were meant for criminal elements causing unrest in the region.
In his defense, Yaman told community leaders that he was only delivering supplies to Fulani residents in a nearby remote village. Community elder Mr. Muhammed Ndako addressed the situation, stating, “Sometimes, we hear that herders are victims of bandits’ attacks; at other times, they are accused of aiding them. It’s now difficult to distinguish between the two, but the important thing is that he has been arrested, and we can only await the outcome of the DSS investigation.”
Patigi Local Government Area Chairman Ahmed Rufai confirmed that the incident is still under investigation, adding, “The man was caught with food and other supplies heading toward an area suspected to be a bandits’ hideout. We’ve instructed that he be handed over to the appropriate authorities for proper investigation.”
While security sources are not providing many details, reports indicate that the Nigerian Army is preparing to initiate sustained clearance operations in affected parts of the local government area to dislodge armed groups operating in the region.
Source: Daily Trust
