Operatives of the Cross River State Command have arrested a suspected gunrunner for allegedly conveying firearms and bullets across the Nigerian border to Cameroon.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan stated this while parading the suspect, 32-year-old Fobi Mbaku along with 29 other suspects at the state Police Command Headquarters on Diamond Hill, Calabar in Calabar.
The commissioner said that the suspect was arrested along Ranch Road in the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state.
It was alleged that the suspect operated in a hideout where automatic rifles were fabricated, and belonged to a syndicate involved in gunrunning in Obanliku and its environs.
The police boss also said 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were allegedly recovered from the suspect.
CP Alhassan said, “Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing syndicate members and to unravel the source and mission of this illegitimate venture. The suspect will be charged as soon as the investigation is concluded.’’
The suspect said his friend usually asked him to help convey bags containing ammunition across the Nigerian border to Cameroon.
He stated, “I have been doing this for over six months. But I must say that I really did not know the contents of the bags I usually carry across the border. I am usually paid N10,000 each time I convey the goods.”