· Recover Arms, Ammunition, As IGP Harps on Technology-Driven Policing in Nigeria
By Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku
Abuja, Nigeria – Operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT) have arrested four notorious arm dealers and recovered 57 AK47 rifles and a large catchment of ammunition in Jos, Plateau State and from other locations across the country.
The suspects, Hamza Zakari (aka Hamzo) aged 20yrs, Abubakar Muhammed (aka Fancy) aged 22yrs, Umar Ibrahim aged 25yrs and Muhammed Abdulkarim (aka Dan-Asabe) aged 37yrs, all males and residents of Jos, were arrested in a sting operation.
The suspects, who confessed to their involvement in arms dealings and other criminal acts, have been identified as one of the major links for the supply of arms and ammunition to criminal elements terrorizing the state and some other parts of the country. The investigation team is on the trail of their accomplices and they are closing in on them.
Similarly, operatives of the FIB-IRT acting on a tip-off have smashed and arrested three suspected gun runners in Ibi LGA of Taraba State. The suspects, Bello Sani, Venab Puncat and Yusuf Nahoda, all of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba, during interrogation confessed to have purchased one AK47 rifle, and one SMG rifle at the cost of Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (#900,000). Concerted effort has been activated to arrest their collaborators and recover the exhibits.
The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Usman Alkali while commending the successes recorded by the FIB-IRT, reassured members of the public of his administration’s commitment to the fight against common enemies of the nation who are hell-bent on causing pains, tears and agony to Nigerians.
He also called for continued support for the Police and the security community, as the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership will up its game to ensure public safety, peace and security via intelligence-led, technology–driven and robust community–based partnership for a better security architecture in Nigeria.Force Headquarters Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in statement on Thursday, said the arrested suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.