Abuja — The Nigeria Police Force has begun a search for 40 armed bandits allegedly from Chad Republic. The police said that the suspected bandits were last seen along Kwali and Lokoja road.

The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Haruna John disclosed this Wednesday in an interactive session between the Police and the residents of Gwagwalada, Abuja.

He said that the robbers carried sophisticated weapons and had robbed travellers along Akwanga road.

CP Haruna added that fighting the bandits was a war and it will only succeed with the cooperation of the general public by giving useful information.

He urged vigilante groups in the area to work together to assist the police.

In his remarks the Etsu of Gwari Kwali, Alhaji Shaaban Mohammed, said that the Gwagwlada community knew about the bandits and offered to give useful information to the police.

The traditional leader advised the government to restore police road blocks which will help check the movements of criminals along major roads and cautioned the police over false information.

The interactive session between the police and the community was introduced as a platform for parley between the police and communities.