The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State has been redeployed for allegedly conniving with bandits terrorising the area.
In a statement on Monday, the spokesman of the Zamfara Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, said the commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, had to remove the unnamed DPO following the weighty allegation.
The police spokesman said the attention of the command was drawn to a viral video trending on social media platforms in which residents of Kungurki village accused the DPO of working with bandits.
He said the DPO has been moved to the police command headquarters as OC provost, while the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Umar Abdullahi, has been appointed as acting DPO of the Division.
Shehu, however, said no formal complaints have been lodged against the unnamed DPO, asking residents to come forward with credible evidence against the DPO by contacting the acting DPO through his phone number– 08162793939.
He urged members of the public to assist the police in its investigation by contacting the command with useful information which will lead to the arrest of bandits.
Shehu said: “The attention of the Zamfara State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video trending on social media platforms wherein the communities of Kungurki village, in Kaura Namoda LGA, accused the DPO of Kaura Namoda Division of conniving with recalcitrant armed bandits who were making life unbearable for the people.
“Available records at the command revealed no formal complaint against the DPO in respect of the allegation.
“However, the command enjoins members of the public, especially the aggrieved community, that any person or group with credible evidence against the DPO, should come to the Police Command Headquarters and assist in the ongoing investigation.
“The DPO, as a custodian of peace and tranquility, has the mandate to interact and engage with the two warring Hausa and Fulani bandit communities to a dialogue so as to strengthen the ongoing peace process of the state government.”