Police Arrest 10 Suspects, Recover AK-47s, Ammunition in Crackdown on Firearms Trafficking
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 10 suspects in separate intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks allegedly involved in the unlawful possession, trafficking and distribution of firearms across parts of the country.
The operations were conducted by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and prevent the movement of firearms used in violent crimes.
In one of the operations spanning Imo and Rivers states, eight suspects were arrested over alleged links to a criminal syndicate involved in kidnapping and illegal firearms procurement.
The principal suspect, identified as Mohammadu Sani, was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Sani had previously operated in Kogi State before relocating to Port Harcourt, where he allegedly began efforts to rebuild his criminal network.
Police said further investigations linked members of the syndicate to kidnapping activities in parts of Rivers and Imo states, while also tracing the recovered firearm to an alleged firearms trafficking intermediary.
In a separate operation targeting a suspected firearms trafficking syndicate in the North-Central region, operatives arrested Yakubu Danladi Pam and Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain.
The operation resulted in the recovery of one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition.
According to the Police, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were allegedly involved in the supply, transportation and distribution of firearms across parts of the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.
The Force said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicates and disrupt their networks, particularly those involved in the illegal movement of firearms used to facilitate kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, ANIPR, said the operations underscore the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to intelligence-led policing and the sustained disruption of criminal networks across the country.
Police Arrest 10 Suspects, Recover AK-47s, Ammunition in Crackdown on Firearms Trafficking