The Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG), also known as Askarawan Zamfara, have intercepted 98 landmines allegedly being transported to bandits in Maru Local Government Area.

The CPG Commandant, DIG Muhammad Shehu Daligent (rtd), disclosed this while parading suspects in Gusau.

He said the explosives were intercepted following intelligence on a vehicle conveying the items from Gusau to Bindin village.

"It is a well-known fact that bandits have taken over Bindin village, and anyone there is either a bandit or collaborator," he said.

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Daligent alleged that illegal miners and gold traders were aiding banditry.

"The bandits enslave villagers to mine gold and send people to sell it for them," he said.

He said eight suspects were arrested, including a driver, a supplier and seven alleged gold buyers, while one suspect is at large.

Recovered items include 98 landmines, detonators, motorcycles, cash amounting to over ₦13.3 million, cigarettes and marijuana.

"Banditry has the support of both big and small actors in society," he said.

He warned that such explosives could cause massive casualties if they reached bandits.

"If these quantities reach them, how many lives will they kill?" he asked.

Daligent said the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

He assured that the outfit would sustain operations against bandit collaborators.