The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old woman, Rashida Hussaini, suspected to be a bandit’s wife and supplier of petrol to the criminals in the forest.
Spokesman of the command, SP Gambo Isah, while parading the suspect at the police Headquarters, said she was arrested along Kofar Guga-Jibiya Road with 6 gallons of petrol concealed in a sack and a handbag hidden under her hijab.
Isah said the suspect raised suspicion when she could not give a definite address where she came from.
“Rashida Hussaini, 25-year-old was arrested in Kofar Guga in possession of gallons full with petrol (3 gallons) and concealed in a sack. Similarly, a big leather full of petrol (3 gallons) and concealed in a bag zipped. She hides them under her hijab. Upon interrogation, she said she was from Dadara but she hails from Gombe State. Later, she said she was from Hirji in the Niger Republic,” he stated.
“She couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation on where she bought the petrol and where she was going with it. It was obvious that she came out from the forest and was suspected to be aiding the activities of the bandits by providing them with information and supplying them with petrol for use in their motorcycles
“From all indications, life is miserable for the bandits as they resort to sending their wives to disguise and come out to the town to buy petrol in sacks and leather, hide under their hijab and take to them in Forest. The investigation is ongoing.” Isah added.
The police also said the act contravened the containment order banning sales of petrol in jerry cans.
It also said it would charge her for aiding and abeting banditry, more so that the suspect’s husband is presently in the forest.
The arrest according to Isah, is in furtherance to the implementation and enforcement of the Security Containment Order, signed by Governor Aminu Masari, over the rising case of banditry in the state.
Speaking over her arrest, the suspect confessed to have come from Hirji in Niger Republic, denying that the petrol is for bandits in the forest, saying they were meant for grinding machines.
She further denied that her husband is a bandit in the forest, but in Ghana.
Isah said the suspect will be charged to court at the end of investigations to serve as a deterrent to others.
