By Nkechi Eze
In a significant operation that disrupted a major arms trafficking route, operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested two suspected gunrunners in possession of a large cache of sophisticated firearms and ammunition.
SP Ramhan Nansel, Nasarawa state police public relations officer in an official signed statement disclosed that the suspects were intercepted while attempting to transport the illegal weapons through Lafia, the state capital, en route to Ilorin, Kwara State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, June 4, 2025, was based on actionable intelligence and executed under the directive of the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed. The swift deployment of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit led to the interception of a grey Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AAA 926 XL at about 3:09 a.m.
Arrested in the operation were 40-year-old Lawal Sani, a commercial bus driver from the Makwalla area of Funtua Local Government Area in Katsina State, and 75-year-old Dahiru Abdullahi, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who is known to operate within the Keffi Cattle Market.
Recovered from the vehicle were one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifles, one TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, four empty magazines, and the vehicle used in transporting the weapons. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were paid ₦500,000 to move the arms from Benue State to Kwara State. Police authorities say the weapons were destined for criminal groups and could have significantly contributed to the rising tide of insecurity in the region.
In a strong-worded declaration, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed stated that the operation sends a clear message to criminal syndicates operating across the country. “This interception is a testament to our commitment to eradicating illegal arms trafficking and disrupting criminal logistics chains. Nasarawa State will not be a corridor for the movement of weapons of war. We are resolute in our mission to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens,” he said.
The Commissioner further emphasized that a full-scale investigation is underway to dismantle the wider network involved in the arms trade. He assured residents of continued police action against any form of criminal activity and called on members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely information on suspicious movements and persons.
“We urge citizens to make full use of our official hotlines for swift response. Every tip, every alert counts in this collective effort to secure our communities,” he added.
The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, and authorities say further arrests are expected as the intelligence trail unfolds.
