Over 500 bandits said to have protested against the arrest of one Alhaji Masume, father to two of the bandits, reportedly laid siege on Tsafe town, Headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
They were said to have demanded for the release of Masume who was arrested by security operatives in Tsafe cattle market early Friday morning.
The incident which occurred on Friday was said to have lasted for six hours and was led by Ado Aleru and his immediate younger brother, Sanata, Masume’s children.
A resident of Tsafe said the bandits blocked the railway intersection along Gusau road, demanding the release of their father.
He, however, said he was not in a position to say whether Masume was released, adding that, “we felt he has been released because if he was not released, the bandits would have attacked the town.”
According to him, Masume’s two children command two groups of bandits
Reports quoted sources saying that, “Those who came from Munhaye gathered about 500 bikes.
“A native from Munhaye told me he personally counted 400 bikes with three bandits on each.
“And the from the east of Tsafe Mararaba Yankuzo they counted 340 bikes. Ado led the Munhaye troops and Sanata his brother led the east troops. They have up to dawn for their father to be released”.
Security sources said Masume was arrested over the activities of his two notorious children terrorising communities in Zamfara state.
“What I know is that he was arrested as part of efforts to get at his children, especially Ado Aleru.
“Their father is not a bandit and I can confirm to you that we didn’t arrest him to hurt him but to get at his children,” a security said.
He, however declined to say whether the man was released or not, stressing that he personally heard of the siege on Tsafe but said the bandits couldn’t penetrate the town.
Aleru is said to be one of the notorius bandits terrorising Zamfara and Katsina states.
In 2020, the Katsina state police command was said to have placed a N5 million bounty on him after raiding several villages.
Efforts to contact the spokesperson of the Zamfara state police command Mohammed Shehu, was unsuccessful as he did not respond to a text message sent to his mobile telephone.
