The Nasarawa State Police Command has apprehended a 75-year-old suspected arms trafficker, Dahiru Abdullahi, and his alleged accomplice, 40-year-old Lawal Sani, during a targeted operation led by the anti-kidnapping unit.
According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the arrest was made following credible intelligence, leading to the interception of the suspects while traveling through Lafia with a significant stockpile of weapons.
Abdullahi, identified as a cattle trader from Kaduna State, and Sani, a commercial bus driver from Katsina, were allegedly transporting the weapons to Ilorin, Kwara State, in a grey Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number AAA 926 XL.
Items recovered from the vehicle include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifles, one TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, four empty magazines, and the vehicle used for the operation.
“The suspects confessed that they were offered ₦500,000 to move the weapons from Benue State to Kwara,” SP Nansel revealed. “This transaction had the potential to supply arms to multiple criminal networks.”
He said the suspects are currently in custody and assisting with investigations aimed at dismantling the broader arms trafficking syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Shitima Mohammed, reiterated the command’s commitment to stamping out criminal activity. “This operation sends a clear signal: Nasarawa will not serve as a transit route for crime,” he said.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. “We will continue to act decisively against those who threaten peace and public safety,” he added.
