Police Bust Trans-Border Gunrunning Syndicate, Recover 17 Rifles, Ammunition

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested five suspects involved in trans-border gunrunning and recovered a cache of weapons, including 17 rifles, a revolver pistol, and ammunition.

The suspects—Adamu Noma, Matthew Audu, Andrew Poyi, Aminu Sani, and Aminu Talha—were apprehended on November 18, 2024, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT). A thorough search of their premises uncovered 10 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, five Israeli-made AK-47 rifles, one revolver pistol, a pump-action rifle, 20 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and a welding machine believed to be used for manufacturing weapons.

This operation marks another milestone in the NPF’s campaign to tackle crime and insecurity nationwide. The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the efforts of the operatives and reaffirmed his directive for an intensified mop-up of illegal arms and ammunition. He also called for the dismantling of local manufacturing networks supplying illicit weapons.

In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi reiterated the NPF’s commitment to combating crime, urging citizens to provide credible information to aid the police in ridding communities of illegal arms and other criminal activities.