- Zamfara police arrested a 58-year-old Algerian man for alleged transborder arms trafficking, recovering 16 AK-47 rifles during raids
- The suspect admitted to supplying arms to bandits for eight years, with police also detaining individuals linked to motorcycle supplies
Zamfara police have arrested a 58-year-old Algerian man for alleged transborder arms trafficking. The arrest was disclosed on Tuesday by the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, during a briefing in Gusau.
Over the past three weeks, the police recovered 16 AK-47 rifles during multiple raids. Additionally, one double-barrel gun and a locally made pistol were seized from a suspected arms manufacturer in Jos, Plateau State.
Dalijan explained that the command, acting on intelligence, tracked and arrested the suspected arms maker in Jos. They also apprehended the Algerian trafficker at the Illela border point.
The Algerian suspect reportedly admitted to supplying arms to bandits across the northwest for eight years. At the time of his arrest, police recovered four AK-47 rifles.
Further operations led to the detention of individuals accused of supplying motorcycles to bandits. Recovered items included live ammunition and N2.5 million in cash.
The police also arrested illegal gold miners and seized several mining excavators, reaffirming that the ban on illegal mining by the Federal and State governments remains in effect.
Dalijan emphasized the command’s commitment to curbing criminal activities and ensuring public safety in Zamfara and beyond.