Police Crack Down On Gunrunners, Drug Traffickers, Arrest 9 Suspects

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested nine suspects in a major crackdown on gunrunners and drug traffickers across the country.

The operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) also dismantled several criminal networks across the country.

Force spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said coordinated operations by the IRT led to the arrest of the nine suspects across seven major cases, with the recovery of a large cache of weapons and illicit drugs.

Adamu Zaki Babangida, arrested for criminal conspiracy, arms dealings, and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms; Daudume Bayina arrested for criminal conspiracy, arms dealings; Chibuke Nnaji and Joshua Izang a.k.a Buffalo, both arrested for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

Others were John Magah and Ishaya Stephen, both arrested for arms supplies; Ifeanyi Egbeke, arrested for illegal drug supply; Salisu Mohammed a.k.a Mande Dawa, arrested for criminal conspiracy, arms dealings, and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms; and Uchenna Ikpe, arrested with 24 bags of Indian Hemp.

The Force PRO further stated that the operations resulted in the seizure of AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, pistols, locally fabricated firearms, ammunition and 24 bags of Indian hemp, alongside large quantities of controlled pharmaceutical drugs.

Some of the suspects arrested were long-time arms suppliers to bandits operating along border communities in Adamawa, Kaduna, Zamfara and parts of the North-West, while others were involved in supplying drugs to criminal groups terrorising several states.

He added that investigations uncovered links between gunrunners, drug traffickers and kidnapping syndicates, noting that some suspects admitted to operating for years and supplying arms to bandits.

Some of the exhibits recovered included two AK-47 Rifles, three Pump Action Rifles, two Single Barrel guns, two Berretta Pistols, four locally fabricated revolver rifles, six Live cartridges, four magazines, 35 Rounds of Live Ammunition of various calibres and 24 bags of Indian hemp, among other exhibits on display.