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The Niger State Police Command tactical team stationed at Gwacipe checking point, along Izom-Suleja road, has arrested seven suspects allegedly for criminal conspiracy, illegal arms dealing, as well as possession of three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles.
The state police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abidoun, said in a press release signed by him and obtained by Newsline crime correspondent yesterday that the police tactical team had, on December 5, 2023, at about 06:20 hrs, encountered four suspected armed men who were on motorcycles with sacks as they attempted to attack the team.
DSP Abidoun disclosed in the press release that the team responded swiftly, and in the process, one Peter Padda, 24 years old, of Sulu village in Gurara LGA, was shot on the leg and was arrested, while three others escaped from the scene into the bush.
According to the PPRO, three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles with magazines were recovered from their possession.
He said that the suspect, during interrogation, confessed that he was sent by his brother James Padda to purchase the rifles from a local fabricator in Shiroro LGA at the rate of N100,000 each.
The police image maker further disclosed that, in the course of the investigation, six other suspects were arrested by the police as a result of his confession of illegal arms dealing.
The suspects, he said, were James Padda, 30 years old, from Gbakoro village; Isah Audu, 25 years old; Ahmadu, 35 years old, from Gabi village Lapai; Isah Bako, 24 years old; and Rabo, all of Gusoro, Shiroro LGA.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects, according to the press release, were three locally fabricated AK47 rifles, three magazines, one AK47 live ammunition, one local bulletproof vest, and charms.
The suspects, according to the release, have been charged to court.
The suspects, according to the release, have been charged to the court.
The Niger State Government says a report that recommended the reintroduction of poll tax, otherwise known as 'Jangali', would be implemented later.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who disclosed this yesterday at Government House in Minna after receiving the report on the reintroduction of Jangali, described it as timely, considering the desire of the state government to urgently resolve the farmer-herder crisis and banditry in the state.
He commended the committee chaired by Etsu Nupe, Alh Yahaya Abubakar, for a thorough job done and assured that the report would be perused with a view to implementing most of the recommendations.
Mohammed Bago also acknowledged the fatherly role and good stewardship of the Etsu Nupe, promising that his administration will not relent in strengthening the traditional institutions in the state.
While presenting the report, the Etsu Nupe explained that the committee was set up by the immediate past administration in 2021 and observed that since the poll tax system was abandoned, the state government has been experiencing security breaches and has lost a huge source of internally generated revenue (IGR).
He said the committee also recommended the sharing formula, with the state government taking 50 percent, local government authorities 30 percent, and traditional institutions receiving 20 percent of what's collected.
He said reintroducing the poll tax system, among other recommendations, would help in curbing the activities of herders, curtail insecurity, and boost the IGR of the state.
The Etsu Nupe then called for cooperation and urged the state government to provide the needed social services for Fulani herders to feel the impact of governance.
The jangali, or poll tax, operated in pre-colonial Hausa society as a form of tax paid by owners of livestock and was charged per head of cow. It was in operation until the post-independence northern regional government abolished it.
