Shafi’u Abdullahi, an indigene of Bagega village in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, was recently arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly supplying bandits with foodstuffs and women.

He was nabbed while allegedly taking two biological sisters, Binta Husaini and Balki Husaini, who are Nigeriens to bandits. Abdullahi talks about his relationship with the bandits in an interview.

You were allegedly arrested by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers while taking two biological sisters, Binta Husaini and Balki Husaini to bandits, who were you taking them to?

I was taking them to Alhaji Shawo.

Who is Alhaji Shawo?

He is the leader of the bandits and cattle rustlers.

Where does he stay?

He stays in their camp in the forest, very close to my village.

How did you come across with the two sisters you were taking to him?

I didn’t know them. I got their phone numbers from Alhaji Shawo. He asked me to call them and bring them to his place. When I called them, they told me that they were in Anka town. I went there and met with them. Then I took them on my motorcycle but I didn’t know that I was being trailed by NSCDC.

Does that mean you have been going to bandits’ hideout to supply them with foodstuffs and women?

No. I never went to their hideout. They normally come to meet me in my village at Bagega to collect their items. Even when I was arrested, I was already close to my village; that was when I saw the NSCDC officers. I didn’t go to the bandits’ hideout. Whatever they needed, they would tell me and I would get it for them. Then they would come to my village to collect it.

How long have you been doing that for the bandits?

Not quite long. I transacted business with them only four times before I was arrested.

What do you do for a living?

I am a commercial motorcyclist. I make money by transporting people and goods from one place to another. I did that in Lokoja, Kogi State for long before I moved to Zamfara. I later decided to come back home.

How much was the bandits’ leader paying you?

He used to give me N1,000 per trip because I didn’t go to the forest. He used to come to my village to get his things.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.