Nigeria: Police intercepts 488 AK-47 rifles, arrest 2,000 suspects
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat crime, intercepting a large cache of live ammunition and arresting a suspect linked to the smuggling operation.
According to a statement by the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, operatives from the Nyanya Division, in collaboration with officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, apprehended Nuhu Aminu, a 32-year-old man from Katsina State, at the Nyanya bus terminal.
Upon searching his consignment, officers discovered 488 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition hidden in two 25-litre jerrycans filled with palm oil to evade detection. Adeh said the suspect was caught in possession of the illegal cargo, which was cleverly concealed to avoid detection.
During interrogation, Aminu confessed that he had been recruited by Yakubu Kachalla, a resident of Funtua, Katsina State. He revealed that he was paid N100,000 to collect the illegal cargo from an unidentified contact in Nasarawa State and deliver it to Katsina.
Adeh said the arrest highlights the relentless efforts of the FCT Police Command in dismantling criminal networks and preventing the proliferation of illegal arms that fuel violent crimes. The suspect is in custody, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices and uncover the full extent of this arms-smuggling operation.
The police have also announced that over 2,300 arrests were recorded in various operations conducted across the country from February 2025 to date. A breakdown of the figure shows that 602 were armed robbery suspects, 385 kidnapping suspects, 557 murder/homicide suspects, 215 individuals involved in unlawful possession of firearms, 286 rape suspects, and 276 suspected cultists.
Operatives also recovered 333 firearms, 6,422 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, and 200 stolen vehicles. A total of 324 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued during these operations.
The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Nigeria Police Force has made substantial progress in combating crime across the nation. He noted that numerous arrests were made in connection with various heinous crimes, and several exhibits were recovered during the operations.
Adejobi said, “The Force recorded the arrest of 602 armed robbery suspects, 385 kidnapping suspects, 557 murder/homicide suspects, 215 suspects connected with the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 286 rape suspects, 276 suspected cultists, and recovery of 333 various firearms, 6422 ammunition of various calibers.”
The police have assured residents that investigations are ongoing to track down Aminu’s accomplices and dismantle the arms-smuggling network. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), FCT Command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities.
