Nigeria Police Burst Notorious Gunrunning Syndicate, Arrests 2,740 Criminal Suspects
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has affirmed the dismantling and arrest by its operatives, of a 5-man gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.
The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato, John Danladi, Mohammed Munkail, Manasseh William and Muhammadu Haddi, were arrested with 1 PKT machine gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition.
According to Adejobi, the leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon handling instructor at a Boko Haram Camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.
Adejobi also disclosed that the Force has secured the arrest of 2,740 criminal suspects for various crimes over the last month.
A breakdown of the number of the arrested suspects reveals 295 for armed robbery, 186 for kidnapping, 271 for murder/homicide and 71 suspects for the unlawful possession of firearms.
Also, 199 suspects were arrested for sexual-related offences, 143 for cultism, and 1,575 others for other various crimes. The Force also recovered 185 firearms and a total number of 4,087 ammunition of various calibres, while 111 vehicles were recovered and 129 kidnapped victims rescued.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in the pursuit of ensuring crimes and criminalities are brought to its lowest in accordance with the Rule of Law, and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out extant duties of protection of lives and properties”, Adejobi stated.
He conveyed the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s reassurances to the public of the Police Force’s dedication to protecting the lives and property, to which effect, he has emplaced several strategies and tactics, aimed at combating various forms of crimes in all spheres.
“The IGP hereby calls for citizens’ full support in actualizing this goal and establishing a utopia in our dear country”, Adejobi said.
