Police Arrest Nine, Uncover Five Gun-Running Syndicates

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested nine suspected gunrunners and recovered a cache of deadly weapons in a series of coordinated operations across several states.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while parading the suspects and recovered arms before journalists.

Hundeyin said the arrests were made by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) under the Force Intelligence Department, following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intensify the nationwide crackdown on illegal arms and violent crime.

“These arrests reflect our sustained onslaught against criminal syndicates across the country,” Hundeyin stated. “We will continue to ensure that crime is brought to the barest minimum.”

According to the police, the month-long operation led to the recovery of:

7 AK-47 rifles

2 AK-49 rifles

5 pump-action rifles

15 magazines

3 locally fabricated firearms

6 machetes

615 rounds of live ammunition and 14 expended cartridges

Hundeyin noted that all the items were seized from suspects during intelligence-led raids in Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, and other states.

In Nasarawa and Plateau, four suspects — Belo Lado (40), Jafar Adam (25), Adamu Yusuf (46), and Yusuf Ibrahim (52), were arrested with two AK-47 rifles and 21 rounds of ammunition.

In Doma, Nasarawa State, another suspect, Alhaji Bature Mania (46), was apprehended following a petition from concerned residents. An AK-47 rifle with a magazine was recovered from him.

Also, in Kaduna State, Yunana Ilia (34) was caught supplying arms to bandits. Hundeyin described him as “an active supplier whose arrest has disrupted a major criminal supply chain.”

In Taraba State, the police arrested Yusuf Musa (37) and Mohammed Jafar (50), who were allegedly supplying guns to criminal gangs across Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Benue States. Officers recovered an AK-49 rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition.

 

Finally, in Plateau State, operatives arrested Alhaji Jibun Abubakar (40), a suspected arms fabricator, with a locally made AK-47 rifle. He has reportedly named several of his accomplices who are now being trailed.

Hundeyin urged Nigerians to continue partnering with the police by providing credible intelligence that can help dismantle criminal networks.

“These successes are possible because of community cooperation,” he said. “When citizens provide timely information, we can act fast and save lives.”

He confirmed that all nine suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the completion of investigations.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying the fight against arms trafficking, kidnapping, and other violent crimes while assuring Nigerians of continued security operations across the country.