By John Ogunsemore
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested Lawal Sani and Dahiru Abdullahi, two suspected gunrunners traveling through Lafia in possession of a large cache of high-grade firearms and ammunition en route to Ilorin, Kwara state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Ramhan Nansel disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He said the command, acting on credible, actionable intelligence, deployed its Anti-Kidnapping Unit, which intercepted the male suspects at 03:09 am on Wednesday.
The police spokesman said Sani, 40, a commercial bus driver from Makwalla area, Funtua LGA, Katsina State, and Abdullahi, 75, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa, Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, known to operate within Keffi Cattle Market, Nasarawa State, were arrested.
Items recovered from the suspects include 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, and 4 empty magazines.
He said a 1 Toyota Hiace bus, grey in color, registration number AAA 926 XL, was also seized from the suspects.
“The suspects confessed to being paid ₦500,000 to transport the weapons from Benue to Kwara State—a transaction that could have armed multiple criminal networks.
“They have been taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation is currently underway to uncover the network behind this operation,” the PPRO stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed described the operation as a resounding message to all criminal elements that Nasarawa is not a safe corridor for crime.
He said the command remains unshaken in its resolve to dismantle illegal arms networks and protect the lives of innocent Nigerians and urged the public.to stay alert and continue reporting suspicious persons and activities through official police channels.