The Nigeria Police Force says its operatives have arrested ten suspects in separate intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks accused of illegally possessing, trafficking and distributing firearms in different parts of the country.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the arrests were carried out by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Headquarters as part of a broader crackdown on arms trafficking syndicates.
“The Nigeria Police Force, through operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, has arrested ten suspects in separate intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks involved in unlawful possession, trafficking and distribution of firearms across parts of the country,” the statement read.
In the first operation, carried out across Imo and Rivers States, police said eight suspects were apprehended in connection with a syndicate suspected of involvement in kidnapping and illegal firearms procurement.
The statement identified the principal suspect as Mohammadu Sani, who was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State. “[He] was apprehended on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition,” the police said.
Investigations, according to the statement, showed that Sani had previously operated in Kogi State before relocating to Port Harcourt, where he allegedly began rebuilding his criminal network. Police said findings also linked other members of the syndicate to kidnapping operations in Rivers and Imo States, and traced the recovered firearm to an alleged trafficking intermediary.
In a separate operation targeting a suspected firearms trafficking syndicate in the North-Central region, police said operatives arrested Yakubu Danladi Pam and Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain.
Items recovered from the pair included one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition, the statement said.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects were involved in the supply, transportation and distribution of firearms across parts of the North-Central and North-Eastern regions,” police said.
The Force said it has intensified efforts to track down other members of the syndicates and disrupt the illegal circulation of firearms used to facilitate violent crimes across the country.
