The Nasarawa State Police Command has successfully apprehended two suspected gunrunners with a substantial cache of high-caliber weapons and ammunition in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to a statement released by the Command's Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the arrest occurred around 3:09 am in Lafia following credible intelligence received by the authorities. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on direct orders from Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammad, swiftly responded to the information, leading to the capture of the suspects.

Identity of the Suspects

The suspects have been identified as 40-year-old Lawal Sani, a commercial bus driver from the Makwalla area of Funtua Local Government Area in Katsina State, and 75-year-old Dahiru Abdullahi, a cattle dealer from Angwan Dosa in Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State. Authorities noted that Abdullahi regularly conducts business at the Keffi Cattle Market in Nasarawa State.

Weapons Recovered

During the operation, police recovered an alarming arsenal of weapons, including:

  • One General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)

  • Three AK-47 rifles

  • One TAB 06 rifle

  • 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition

  • 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition

  • Four empty magazines

  • One grey Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AAA 926 XL

During questioning, the suspects reportedly confessed to being paid ₦500,000 to transport the arms and ammunition from Benue State. The intended destination of these weapons remains under investigation.

Both suspects are currently in police custody as authorities conduct a comprehensive investigation into what appears to be part of a larger arms trafficking network operating in the North Central region.

This arrest comes amid growing concerns about the proliferation of illegal firearms across Nigeria, which has contributed to various security challenges including banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes in several states.

BenriNews will continue to monitor developments in this case as further details emerge from the ongoing police investigation.