The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a dismissed immigration officer who was attempting to sell high-powered firearms to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forests.
The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, was intercepted during a police intelligence operation aimed at preventing deadly weapons from reaching criminal elements.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, March 5, Mustafa Mohammed, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, detailed the operation’s success.
“Acting on intelligence, the command intercepted these guns from a dismissed immigration officer attempting to sell them to bandits terrorising the Abuja-Kaduna forest.
“The intelligence was received in time, and the arms were intercepted while he was trying to make the delivery,” he said.
Among the recovered firearms was a Scorpion CZ EVO3, an advanced, fully automatic weapon equipped with an inbuilt silencer.
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“This is the latest model, the 2022 version of the Scorpion series. It can be used in single, automatic, or burst mode. It is a highly sophisticated weapon, and its magazine can hold between 20 to 30 rounds, depending on the configuration.
“We also recovered 52 rounds of ammunition which could have posed a severe threat had they fallen into the hands of criminals,” Mohammed added.
Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, revealed that 300 suspects had been arrested between January 1 and February 28, 2025, as part of intensified operations to curb crime in the capital.
“In its sustained effort to rid the Federal Capital Territory of crime and criminal elements, the FCT Police Command has intensified its operations, carrying out a series of high-impact raids from January 1st to February 28th, 2025,” Disu stated.
“These decisive actions, driven by intelligence and executed with tactical precision, have led to the arrest of 300 suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and illicit substances.
“Total number of armed robbers arrested: 59. Total number of kidnappers and informants arrested: 10. Total number of armed robbers neutralized: nine. Total number of kidnappers neutralized: seven. Total number of cultists arrested: 16,” he added.
The commissioner also said targeted raids were conducted in criminal hideouts across the FCT.
“Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the safety of residents, the Command deployed specialized tactical teams to raid identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the FCT.
“These operations covered high-risk areas, including Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo, and Maitama.
“Additionally, abandoned buildings across the city, frequently used as hideouts and bases for planning illicit activities, have been identified and will be subject to continuous monitoring and raids,” Disu said.