In a renewed offensive against the proliferation of illegal firearms, the Nigeria Police Force has dismantled multiple gunrunning syndicates operating across the country, recovering a cache of weapons and arresting key suspects linked to arms trafficking, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said this at a news briefing held at the Force Intelligence Department- Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT) Headquarters in Guzape, Abuja.

Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police said the coordinated operations carried out in the past month had led to significant breakthroughs in the fight against illegal arms.

According to Hundeyin, operatives of the IRT recovered seven AK-47 rifles, two AK-49 rifles, five pump-action rifles, 15 magazines, a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a shorty rifle, a pistol, six machetes, an axe, and 615 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres.

He noted that the operatives also apprehended nine suspects and recovered additional rifles and ammunition during follow-up investigations.

Providing details, the police spokesperson revealed that four suspected gunrunners were arrested in Nasarawa and Plateau States following credible intelligence.

The suspects identified as Bello Lado, Jafar Adam, Adamu Yusuf, and Yusuf Ibrahim were found in possession of two AK-47 rifles and 21 rounds of live ammunition.

Investigations, he said, showed that the group had been involved in arms trading since 2022 and had trafficked nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

In another operation, Hundeyin disclosed that police operatives arrested a notorious arms dealer, Alhaji Bature Manya, in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The 46-year-old suspect, he said, was found in possession of an AK-49 rifle and a magazine following an intelligence-led operation launched after a petition from concerned citizens in the area.

He further revealed that a suspected arms supplier, identified as Yunana Iliya, also known as Bado, was apprehended in Kaduna State. Investigations showed that Iliya conspired with other accomplices, currently at large, to supply weapons and ammunition to bandits in the region.

The police spokesperson added that operatives also arrested two other notorious arms dealers and kidnappers, identified as Yusuf Musa and Mohammadu Jafaru, in Taraba State.

The duo, he said, were part of a network responsible for supplying weapons to criminal gangs operating across Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Benue States. One AK-49 rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them.

Hundeyin also announced the arrest of another suspect, Alhaji Jibrin Abubakar, popularly known as Alhaji Majoye, in Plateau State.
The 40-year-old suspect was found with a fabricated AK-47 rifle and was identified as a member of a notorious arms-supply syndicate operating across Plateau, Bauchi, and Nasarawa States.

CSP Hundeyin commended the operatives of the FID–IRT for their professionalism and vigilance, assuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and curbing the flow of illicit weapons.

The Nigeria Police Force will continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that gunrunners, arms dealers, and their collaborators are brought to justice,” he stated.

He urged Nigerians to continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in tackling crime and ensuring peace across the country.