Security operatives in Katsina State have arrested two men accused of gunrunning and seized a large cache of weapons during a coordinated operation.
Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday. He explained that officers from the Katsina Command, acting on reliable intelligence, intercepted the suspects in the early hours of the day along the Ingawa–Karkarku road.
The two men, identified as 25-year-old Abdussalam Muhammed and 23-year-old Aminu Mamman, both residents of Baure village in Safana Local Government Area, were stopped while travelling in a blue Volkswagen Golf car with registration number RSH-528 BV.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 1,063 rounds of 7.62x39mm AK-47 ammunition, and 232 rounds of 7.62x69mm PKT ammunition, which were hidden inside the car.
Preliminary findings, according to police authorities, revealed that the arms were being moved from Hadejia in Jigawa State to Safana LGA in Katsina for supply to criminal gangs operating in the region.
The suspects remain in custody while further investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the weapons, their intended recipients, and other members of the gunrunning network.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the officers for their swift and effective operation. He urged them to maintain momentum in the fight against organised crime and reassured Nigerians of the Force’s determination to “dismantle criminal networks across the country.”
He also appealed to members of the public to continue sharing credible intelligence that can support law enforcement agencies in improving security nationwide.
