The Nasarawa State Police Command has apprehended a 75-year-old suspected arms trafficker, Dahiru Abdullahi, based on credible intelligence.
Abdullahi, a cattle trader from Kaduna State, was arrested along with Lawal Sani, a 40-year-old commercial bus driver from Katsina, during a well-coordinated operation carried out by the Command’s anti-kidnapping unit.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the arrests in a statement released to journalists in Lafia, the state capital, on Wednesday.
He stated that the suspects were intercepted in Lafia while allegedly transporting a significant cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition en route to Ilorin, Kwara State.
The police spokesperson revealed that the items seized from the suspects include 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, 4 empty magazines and 1 Toyota Hiace bus, grey in color, registration number AAA 926 XL.
He added, “The suspects confessed to being paid ₦500,000 to transport the weapons from Benue to Kwara State—a transaction that could have armed multiple criminal networks. They have been taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation is currently underway to uncover the network behind this operation.”
SP Ramhan Nansel noted that the Commissioner of Police, Shitima Mohammed, had declared zero tolerance for crime, explaining that the operation was a resounding message to all criminal elements in the state.
“Nasarawa State is not a safe corridor for crime. We remain unshaken in our resolve to dismantle illegal arms networks and protect the lives of innocent Nigerians.
“We call on the public to stay alert and continue reporting suspicious movements through our official hotlines. We assure of our continued, decisive action against threats to peace and security in the state,” the statement added.
