The Nasarawa State Police Command has successfully apprehended a 21-year-old female arms trafficker and recovered a large cache of ammunition following a well-coordinated operation in Lafia.

Fatima Salisu, a native of Funtua in Katsina State, was arrested in the Azuba area of Lafia after intelligence reports indicated she was transporting ammunition across state lines. According to police reports, the suspect was moving through Keana and Doma Local Government Areas, allegedly en route to deliver the consignment to criminal groups operating in Katsina.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed that the operation was initiated following directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima J. Mohammed, who instructed the Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intercept the suspect based on credible intelligence.

The successful operation led to the recovery of 400 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 81 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition from Salisu's possession, totaling 481 rounds of potentially lethal ammunition.

"The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing intensive interrogation as investigations continue to uncover the full scope of the arms trafficking network, including potential links to banditry and terrorism," Nansel stated in a release issued early Thursday.

The police spokesperson described the arrest as a significant success in the ongoing fight against illegal arms proliferation in Nigeria and reaffirmed the Command's commitment to securing Nasarawa State against criminal elements.

This arrest comes amid growing concerns about the proliferation of illegal arms across northern Nigeria, which has contributed to the escalation of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism in the region.

The Nasarawa Police Command has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies with timely and reliable information to help combat criminal activities in the state and beyond.