The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a notorious trans-border arms dealer and recovered a cache of weapons, including 17 rifles, ammunition, and equipment used for arms fabrication.

Five suspects, identified as Adamu Noma, Matthew Audu, Andrew Poyi, Aminu Sani, and Aminu Talha, were arrested during the operation conducted on November 18 by the Intelligence Response Team.

In a statement on Friday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said Items recovered include 10 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, five Israeli-made AK-47 rifles, a revolver pistol, a pump-action rifle, 20 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and a welding machine allegedly used for fabricating firearms.

He said, “Upon arrest and conducted search, 10 locally fabricated Ak-47 rifles, five Isreali Ak-47 rifles, one revolver pistol, one pump action rifle, 20 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition, and one welding machine for fabrication of rifles were recovered from the suspect.

“These feats, and several more recorded by police operatives across the country are indications of the steadfastness and commitment of the current police leadership to decimate and subdue criminal activities and insecurity in general in the country.”

Adejobi said the IGP commended the operatives for their success and reiterated his directive for tactical units nationwide to intensify their efforts against illicit arms proliferation.

He said, “The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has re-echoed his directive to operatives of the Force, particularly, tactical units, to mop up every illegal arms and ammunition, and see to the total dismantling of local manufacturers of illicit arms and ammunition and dangerous weapons by all means.”

The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a notorious trans-border arms trafficking syndicate, recovering a significant cache of weapons, including 17 rifles, ammunition, and firearm fabrication equipment.

The operation, carried out on November 18 by the Intelligence Response Team, led to the arrest of five suspects: Adamu Noma, Matthew Audu, Andrew Poyi, Aminu Sani, and Aminu Talha.

In a statement released on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the items recovered during the operation.

“Upon arrest and conducted search, 10 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, five Israeli AK-47 rifles, one revolver pistol, one pump-action rifle, 20 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and one welding machine for fabrication of rifles were recovered from the suspects.”

Adejobi highlighted that the arrests and weapons seizure demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the police leadership to curbing criminal activities across Nigeria.

“These feats and several more recorded by police operatives across the country are indications of the steadfastness and commitment of the current police leadership to decimate and subdue criminal activities and insecurity in general in the country,” he said.

He further noted that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has commended the operatives for their success and reiterated his directive for tactical units to intensify efforts against the proliferation of illegal arms.

“The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has re-echoed his directive to operatives of the Force, particularly tactical units, to mop up every illegal arm and ammunition and see to the total dismantling of local manufacturers of illicit arms and dangerous weapons by all means,” Adejobi added.

The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended a notorious gun runner and recovered 20 locally-fabricated AK-47 rifles.

The suspect, Bitrus Gyang, from Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, was arrested on September 19, 2024, at Buruku Bridge during a routine patrol by officers from the Buruku Division.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, said the rifles and an empty Type 06 magazine were concealed in the trunk of a black Golf III saloon vehicle.

During interrogation, Gyang admitted to being involved in gun running and disclosed that he had previously transported fabricated rifles on at least three occasions.

Hassan noted that Gyang had been cooperating with the police, and efforts were being made to locate his accomplices.

The state Commissioner of Police, Audu Dabigi, praised the officers for their dedication to duty and assured the public that “kidnappers and bandits will continue to have no breathing space throughout the state.”

On the day of the arrest, at around 4 pm, officers intercepted the vehicle during their patrol.

Upon thorough inspection, they discovered the 20 fabricated rifles and the magazine hidden in the vehicle’s boot.

The police are continuing their investigations to dismantle the broader network involved in this illegal operation.

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The Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, has dismantled a notorious gunrunning syndicate and arrested over 2,700 suspects in connection with various criminal activities within the past month.

The arrests, which include armed robbers, kidnappers, and murder suspects, mark a significant boost in the force’s efforts to combat violent crimes nationwide under the IGP’s intensified crime-fighting strategies, says an NPF statement.

This major crackdown on crime was disclosed on Tuesday by the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via a press release on X.

It read, “The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, remains relentless in its effort towards ensuring that the perpetrators of heinous crimes across the country are brought to book.”

In a month, multiple suspects linked to violent crimes have been arrested, and numerous criminal activities addressed.

“Over the last month, the Nigeria Police Force recorded the arrest of 295-armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, 271 murder/homicide suspects, and 71 suspects for the unlawful possession of firearms.

“Also arresting 199 suspects for sexual-related offences, 143 suspects for cultism, and 1575 suspects arrested for other various crimes. The Force also recovered 185 firearms and a total number of 4087 ammunition of various calibres, 111 vehicles were recovered, and 129 kidnapped victims rescued,” it added.

The police strike a major blow against a gunrunning syndicate in northern Nigeria.

It further read, “In more recent events, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have made an outstanding breakthrough in the fight against several types of violent crimes across the country, one of which is the dismantling and arrest of a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.

“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato ‘m’, John Danladi ‘m’, Mohammed Munkail ‘m’, Manasseh William ‘m’ and Muhammadu Haddi ‘m’, were arrested with 1 PKT Machine Gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95 rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition. The leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon-handling instructor at a Boko Haram camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.”

The police assure the public of their commitment to maintaining law and order through innovative strategies.

“The Inspector General of Police once again reassures members of the public of the Police Force’s dedication to protecting lives and property. To this effect, the IGP has emplaced several strategies and tactics aimed at combating various forms of crimes in all spheres. The IGP hereby calls for citizens’ full support in actualizing this goal and establishing a utopia in our dear country.”

The police continue their pursuit of justice with professionalism and adherence to the law.

“The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in the pursuit of ensuring crimes and criminalities are brought to its lowest in accordance with the Rule of Law and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out extant duties of protection of lives and properties,” it concluded.

In April 2024, NPF stated that 1,346 suspects had been arrested for various offences, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, gun running, and rape, nationwide.

The police also said they recovered and seized 143 firearms, 741 ammunition, 72 stolen vehicles and have rescued 461 kidnapped victims across the country.

Gunrunning, or the illegal trafficking and smuggling of firearms, is a pervasive issue contributing to violence and insecurity in many regions, including Nigeria.

Criminal groups, insurgents, and militant organisations often rely on these illicit networks to obtain weapons, fueling conflicts and violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and terrorism.

In Nigeria, gunrunning has been closely linked to insurgent activities, particularly in the northern regions, where groups like Boko Haram and bandits have used smuggled arms to sustain their operations.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully dismantled gun-running syndicates that specialise in supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups operating in the North-West and apprehended a notorious kidnapper in Ogun State.

A statement by the Army on its Social Media handle on Thursday said troops recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.

It disclosed that troops in collaboration with other security agencies on August 7, 2024, arrested a notorious gun runner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim in Babinga Kudaru village of Saminaka in Lere local government area of Kaduna State.

In the same vein, troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jos, the Plateau State capital on July 31, 2024, burst another syndicate from whom they recovered an AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.

In another operation, troops acting on credible intelligence tracked down and arrested one 25-year-old Abubakar Shehu in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

The Army accused Shehu of belonging to a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Orelope local government area of Oyo State.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect led troops to Okoka forest in Itesiwaju local government area, where they recovered four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, eight magazines, one cartridge, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

“The troops are continuing their pursuit of other members of the kidnap syndicate,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, in Katsina State, troops during an ambush operation killed a terrorist at Anguwa Boka in Faskari local government area of the state and recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 Magazine, three Rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, a mobile phone and assorted items.

“The arrest of the notorious gun runner Mallam Yau Ibrahim, and the apprehension of the kidnap syndicate, as well as the elimination of a terrorist alongside the recovery of arms and ammunition, are a veritable testament of the NA’s unflinching commitment in safeguarding our nation from the scourge of terrorism and criminality,” the statement said.

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