Police arrest gunrunner who supplies weapons to bandits, kidnappers in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested an alleged informant and logistics supplier to a kidnapping and banditry group terrorising Abuja and its environs.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said in a statement on Sunday that the suspect, who was arrested by the anti-Kidnapping unit at the Mongoro Forest, had been on the wanted list of the command.

Adeh said the suspect was arrested for involvement in the supply of firearms, ammunition, and other weapons.

She said the suspect was also involved in the supply of food items and illicit drugs to the criminals in their various hideouts in the forests using a motorcycle.

According to her, exhibits recovered from the suspect include one AK47 rifle, AK47 ammunition, one mobile phone, foodstuff, and an unregistered boxer motorcycle.

She said investigations into the case had been intensified to identify and cut off the criminal supply chain and arrest other members of the gang.

In a related development, Adeh said the command had arrested 11 suspects over illegal possession, fabrication, and production of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery, and other criminal offences.

She said the supects were intercepted and arrested in Zuba area of the FCT by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

Adeh said items recovered from the suspects were four locally made firearms and one live cartridge.

According to her, preliminary investigations by the police have revealed that the gang is involved in the fabrication and production of small and light weapons locally.

She said operatives from Utako Divisional Police Headquarters had on Wednesday arrested eight suspects over armed robbery at one Amala Garden in Utako.

Adeh said three firearms of different calibres, knives, and hard drugs were recovered from the suspects, arrested following a tip-off.