Gusau — Twelve serving policemen, among them seven inspectors, have been arrested for allegedly selling guns to the notorious armed robbery gang that has been terrorizing the people of Dansadau district in Maru local government area of Zamfara State.

A total of 50 persons have been reportedly killed in recent times by the gang. The latest killings were in June when 27 persons were shot dead by the gang.

Addressing newsmen in Gusau yesterday, renowned armed robbers' hunter Ali Kwara, who was invited by Zamfara government to assist in tackling armed robbery in the state, said nine policemen were arrested in the state and three others arrested in Sokoto for gun running.

He said those arrested Zamfara included seven inspectors, one sergeant and one constable attached to a serving member of the House of Representatives from the state.

"These policemen were fingered by the armed robbers as suppliers of their guns. The police in charge of armory in Zamfara State was also fingered by the armed robbers. I told the police commissioners of the two states who ordered for their arrest. You see, guns belonging to Zamfara and Sokoto state police commands were taken to as far as Niger, Plateau and some states in the Niger Delta area", Kwara said.

Members of the armed robbery gang, according to him, were from Katsina and Kaduna states, saying they all confessed to committing the crime.

Contacted, Zamfara State commissioner of police Usman Akila Gwary said he was not competent to speak on the issue as the case was being handled in Abuja.