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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The police force headquarters Wednesday paraded a notorious gun manufacturer, kidnappers and one chance syndicate comprising mostly women.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the IGP Inteligens Response Team, and Special Tactical Squad, in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), and some states of the federation.
Parading the suspects before newsmen in Abuja, force public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Following an intelligence received by the operatives of the FID-IRT on January 16, 2024, on the activities of one chance operators at the Gwagwalada, Area 1, AYA, Giri and Wuse axis of the FCT, the operatives swung into action and immediately traced the activities of these criminals, which eventually led to their arrest on February 19, 2024 at their hideout located at Karimo, FCT.
Adejobi, said that “Upon their arrest and consequent interrogation, the suspects confessed to being specialized in carrying out “one-chance” operations and have been running it for over a year.”
The arrested prime suspects are one Sunday Ekwo, 35 and Linola Angel Agabi, 27. Recovered from them is POS Machine, which the reportedly use to fleece their victim’s account and one Mazda Saloon car with Reg No. KUJ 887 BQ, which they use for their illicit operations.
Relatedly, on February 9, 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT received intelligence on the activities of a syndicate of Transborder gunrunners operating in Plateau state to other parts of the country and by extension, supplying arms and ammunition to some criminal elements beyond the borders of the country.
The FPRO, said that the IRT Operatives utilized the information and arrested principal suspects; Mahos Jatau Mancha a.k.a Adis, Justin Abugieye a.k.a Austin, Joseph Zingkur Ayuba a.k.a Zed, Davou Chuwang and Yakubu Benedict Bonat a.k.a VIP.
He said “During investigation, it came to light that the said Justin Abugieye is a Transborder Arms and ammunition supplier based in Obudu LGA of Cross River State who usually gets supplies of AK47 rifles, ammunition, and rocket launcher from the Mahos Jatau Mancha, Joseph Zingkur Ayuba, Davou Chuwang, Yakubu Benedict Bonat, all in Plateau state and in turn supplies same to some rebels and other criminal elements in a neighboring country.
“One of the suspects, Yakubu Benedict Bonat confessed to have sold 4 Ak-47 rifles to Justin Abugieye, the first which he said belonged to his late father who was a police officer, and he had sold it to Justin instead of handing it over to legal authorities while the others, he had locally fabricated and had sold to Justin.
“Another of the suspects, Ibrahim Maji, happens to be a middleman who was present when Justin had sold three Ak-47 rifles to one Shetto Dogo and had collected another Ak-47 rifle and 16 live ammunitions to personally deliver to Shetto Dogo before his apprehension.
“One Lucy Ogar, the fem ale lover and accomplice of Justin who usually accompanies him to take delivery and supply of the arms and ammunition, as well as one Paulina Abugieye, his younger sister who assists him in delivering arms to buyers were also arrested.
“A factory operated by the said Joseph Zingkur Ayuba in his house at Kuru, Jos, Plateau state, where he fabricates arms was also discovered. Another suspect; Davou Chuwang who supplies ammunition to Joseph Zingkur was also arrested and while in custody, he was contacted by Majahid Muhammad Kyari and Buhari Musa who requested to purchase 2 Ak-47 rifles from him.
“They agreed to meet him to inspect the rifles and were immediately arrested by the operatives of the IRT at the agreed meet point. Interrogation revealed that Majahid had earlier been in business with Davou Chuwang and had in the past, purchased 50 rounds of 9mm live ammunition from him and trusted him to deliver this time around also.” Adejobi said.
In an interview, one of the suspects, 45-years-old Joseph Ayuba, said so far he has fabricated 19 pistols for criminals since 2019, he started the illegal production.
Ayuba, who is now pleading for forgiveness said he specialised in Pistol making and not AK-47.
According to him, “I have fabricated 19 pistols and nothing more. I supply them to criminals. I don’t make Ak-47. I fabricate Pistols only.”
