The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested a reverend father and other suspects for allegedly supplying guns, and other firearms to bandits, armed robbers and other criminals in Plateau State, Kaduna State, part of Nasarawa States and others.
The force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this while parading the suspects last week in Abuja.
According to him, the suspects who are members of a gun-running syndicate in Plateau State, were arrested at various area in Jos by the operatives of Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
He said during the operation, a cache of arms and ammunition were recovered, and many kidnapped victims were rescued.
The IRT operation, according to the force spokesperso, led to the arrest of Joseph Tata, 33, alias Muazu, from Zumu Village, Mikang LGA, Plateau State. His arrest subsequently led to the apprehension of four additional suspects: Victor Ali-Pam, 33; Abua Yusuf; Bako Isa; and Salamatu Ilya, 34, a female suspect residing in Jos.
Building on this success, the IRT operatives arrested two more suspects on January 28, 2025: Musa Ari from Tambegua, Kaduna State, and Britus Tom from Vom, Plateau State.
Adejobi said, a search of their vehicle, a red Volkswagen station wagon, revealed a hidden arsenal, including: 8 fabricated AK-47 rifles; 4 fabricated revolver guns; 3 fabricated semi-automatic pistols and 2 AK-47 magazines.
He further explained that they were en route to deliver the weapons to criminal elements operating in Plateau, Kaduna, and surrounding areas when they were intercepted
He said one of the suspects admitted to receiving the firearms from a notorious fabricator known as Gyan, who is currently at large and believed to be based in Vom, Plateau State.
In a related development, Amos Sunday Gyan was arrested for possessing a semi-automatic fabricated pistol. He claimed to have found the weapon inside a cushion in a rented apartment but failed to report it to authorities.
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Also, a 60-year-old, Alhaji Tanko of Shrinaka, Plateau State was arrested for being in possesion of illegal firearm.
Overall, the police force reported the following recoveries and rescues during the operation: 172 firearms of various types; 3,174 rounds of ammunition of different calibers; and 115 stolen vehicles, while, 387 kidnapping victims were rescued.
