Authorities have arrested a retired soldier and five other suspected criminals operating along the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
The Department of State Services (DSS) spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, announced that the arrest was made on March 26. This arrest was made in collaboration with sister agencies.
The police also arrested Haruna Adamu, a 20-year-old suspected kidnapper, in Adamawa.
“The security team intercepted a six-man criminal gang at Gegu Beki, along the Lokoja-Abuja Road. While the gang includes Col AU Suleiman (rtd), Barr. MK Aminu, Kabir Abdullahi, Isah Umar, Kadir Echi, and Adama Abdulkarim. Items recovered from the members are one (1) pump action rifle, four (4) cartridges, one (1) AK47 empty shell and the sum of eleven thousand, thirty naira (₦11,030),” said Afunanya.
Additionally, the police caught a suspected gunrunner in Abuja. He was traveling from Nasarawa to deliver arms to bandits in Niger state.
“On March 23, 2023, one Aminu Ibrahim, a suspected gunrunner, was arrested along Kubwa expressway, Abuja by the service operatives while on his way from Nasarawa state to deliver four hundred and thirty-two (432) rounds of 7.62 x39mm calibre ammunition concealed in a four (4) litre gallon of palm oil to a bandit in Niger state. The sum of twenty-one thousand, four hundred naira (₦21,400) was also recovered from the suspect,” Afunanya stated.
Authorities have caught not only Aminu Ibrahim but also other arms couriers.
On March 22, authorities apprehended Babangida Ibrahim, who was serving as an arms courier to bandits in Zamfara state, along Bukuru in Jos South LGA, Plateau state. The authorities recovered four hundred and sixty-eight (468) rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition and the sum of twenty-one thousand, ninety naira (₦21,090) from him.
Afunanya stated that the authorities had arrested all the suspects and would prosecute them promptly. He added that the DSS would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to address crimes in the country.