The Nasarawa State Police Command has intercepted two suspected arms traffickers transporting a cache of weapons from Benue State to Ilorin, Kwara State. The successful operation, carried out on Wednesday, was made possible through actionable intelligence, according to the command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel.
Nansel described the seizure as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing fight against illegal arms trafficking and terrorism in the region. “Two suspected arms dealers were intercepted in Lafia while transporting a substantial quantity of high-grade firearms and ammunition from Benue to Kwara. Prompt deployment of our anti-kidnapping unit led to their arrest through a well-coordinated operation,” he said.
The suspects have been identified as 40-year-old Lawal Sani, a commercial bus driver from Makwalla in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, and 75-year-old Dahiru Abdullahi, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa in Kaduna North, Kaduna State. Abdullahi is said to operate primarily at the Keffi Cattle Market in Nasarawa.
Items recovered during the operation include:
One General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)
Three AK-47 rifles
One TAB 06 rifle
1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition
20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO-calibre ammunition
Four empty magazines
One grey Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number AAA 926 XL
The suspects reportedly confessed to being paid N500,000 to deliver the weapons, which authorities believe could have supplied several criminal cells across multiple states. Both individuals remain in custody as investigations continue to unravel the broader arms trafficking network.
Commissioner of Police Umar Nadada assured residents that Nasarawa State would not serve as a conduit for criminal activities. “We are committed to identifying and dismantling illegal arms networks. Citizens are urged to remain alert and report any suspicious activity using official police hotlines,” he stated.
In a related development, armed herdsmen reportedly responsible for attacks in Benue communities have begun retreating. The shift follows the recent deployment of military reinforcements led by the Chief of Army Staff, aimed at halting two weeks of deadly violence in the state.
