Suspected bandits in their hundreds laid siege on Chafe town some kilometer distance from Gusau the state capital of Zamfara in alleged protest of the arrest of one Alhaji Masume father of two popular notorious bandit leaders Ado Aleru and his younger brother by name Sanata.
According to a source in Chafe town said, the bandits blocked the Chafe railway intersection that link travelers from part of Tsafe to Gusau for close to five hours.
They threatened that unless their father was released, movement along the area would be restricted.
“The father of Ado Aleru was abducted at the livestock market in Tsafe on Friday and was allegedly whisked away by the joint security operatives,” a source added.
But he told this medium that after hours of seige some unverified information had it that the father was released and that influenced the bandits to free the road for movement in the morning of Saturday.
According to the 21st Century Chronicle, an online news media, they quoted a source saying “the bandits divided themselves under the leadership of the two children: Aleru and Sanata”.
The source further said, “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,” the source said.
“What I know is that he was arrested as part of efforts to reach out to his children, especially Ado Aleru. His 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,” the security official said” 21st century chronicle quoted.
As at Saturday night another resident of Tsafe told this medium that immediately after Isha’i prayer the joint security operatives asked every one to remain indoor as news of the presence of the bandits keep spreading.
He said throughout Saturday air force fighter jet has been hovering the airspace of Tsafe town, but people are still entertaining fear .
SP Shehu Muhammad the police spokesperson could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this story.
It could be recalled that Ado Aleru is one of the bandits declared wanted by Katsina state police command with a ransom of five million naira for anyone who produced him
