Police Crack Down on Gunrunning Syndicate, Recover 17 Rifles, Arrest Five Suspects

The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a notorious trans-border arms trafficking syndicate, arresting five suspects and seizing a cache of weapons, ammunition, and equipment used for firearm fabrication.

The operation, conducted by the Intelligence Response Team on November 18, uncovered a network involved in illegal arms trade. Those apprehended were identified as Adamu Noma, Matthew Audu, Andrew Poyi, Aminu Sani, and Aminu Talha.

Significant Recovery of Arms

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

“During the operation and subsequent search, police recovered 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 a welding machine used for fabricating rifles,” Adejobi disclosed.

Commitment to Fighting Crime

Highlighting the significance of the arrests, Adejobi emphasized the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring public safety.

“These arrests and the seizure of arms demonstrate the unwavering dedication of the current police leadership to curbing criminal activities and addressing insecurity across the country,” he said.

IGP’s Directive on Illegal Arms

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their successful operation and reiterated his instructions to intensify efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation.

“The Inspector-General of Police has re-echoed his directive to all operatives, particularly tactical units, to aggressively mop up illegal arms and dismantle local manufacturers of illicit weapons by all available means,” Adejobi stated.

The police urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, underscoring their resolve to tackle arms trafficking and related crimes to safeguard communities nationwide.