The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, says there is an international dimension to banditry plaguing the North-West zone of the country.
He stated that there was evidence backing his assertion, noting that Sudanese, Nigerian and Malian nationals have been arrested in connection with bandit attacks in the north.
The police boss spoke on Wednesday at a town-hall meeting on peace and security held in Zuru, headquarters of Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Adamu noted that the successes recorded by the military against terrorists in the North-East were forcing some of the criminal elements to flee to the North-West.
“We also believe that because of what is happening in the North-East and the fact that the military troops are doing a great job in the fight against insurgency there, most of the bandits are running toward the North-West of the country and we have evidence.
“When we operated in Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, where we attacked a group of bandits, we realised that most of them came from Islamic State of West Africa, who are terrorists, kidnapping for ransom.
“So, the issue is not at the level you are looking at it, it is a big issue and we must work together to address it.
“This is why President Muhammadu Buhari does not rest because of these complaints coming from the North-West and North-Central on banditry,” Adamu said.
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