The Nigeria Police Force reported the apprehension of 67 suspects nationwide for a range of offenses, including kidnapping, gun running, armed robbery, and banditry.
On Tuesday, this information was conveyed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on the official Force X account.
Adejobi mentioned that the police successfully recovered 5,454 rounds of live ammunition, 300 live cartridges, 50 empty ammunition shells, 68 rifles, and 33 ATM cards, among other items.
He also highlighted the apprehension of three individuals involved in a gun-running syndicate linked to the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State. The suspects, Ahmed Sulaimon, Balikisu Aliyu, and Aboki Samuel, are currently in custody, and the police recovered an AK-47 rifle, an AK-49 rifle, 1000 rounds of live ammunition, and five magazines from them.
Furthermore, the statement outlines the arrest of four suspects connected to a bank robbery in Otukpo, where nine AK-47 rifles were seized. In a gunfight in Taraku village, Benue State, five suspects were neutralized by police firepower, with those captured confessing to the crime and implicating other gang members who remain at large.
The statement read, “In furtherance to the sustained efforts of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to curb crimes and criminality across the country, the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Department Tactical Team- DFI-IRT and DFI-STS have successfully arrested 67 suspects for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, gunrunning, one-chance, armed robbery, banditry across the country.
“Similarly the police have recovered 5,454 rounds of live ammunition of different calibre, 300 live cartridges, 50 empty shells of ammunition, 68 rifles, and 33 different ATM cards amongst others.
“Prominent amongst these achievements is the arrest of three suspects who are members of a gunrunning syndicate in connection with the Christmas Eve attack on some villages in Plateau State, they are currently in police custody and assisting with the investigation.
“The suspects are (1) Ahmed Sulaimon (2) Balikisu Aliyu (3) Aboki Samuel. Upon their arrest, 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 AK-49 rifle, 1000 rounds of live ammunition and five magazines were recovered from them.
“Also, four suspects were arrested in connection with the bank robbery at Otukpo where nine AK-47 rifles were recovered from the said suspects while five suspects fell to the superior firepower of police operatives during a fierce gun duel at their hideout in Taraku village, Buruku LGA of Benue State.
“They all confessed to committing the heinous act and linked other gang members who are at large and have also named Terzungwe Shionda a.k.a ‘3-star general’ (now late), Terlumum Pila and one Ayuko both at large, to be the ones supplying them arms on loan for their operations.
“The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Police to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens by relentlessly cracking down on criminals and criminally related activities and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Nigeria is a safe space for everyone.”