Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six notorious arms and logistics suppliers to bandits, recovering assault rifles, ammunition, and operational motorcycles.
Confirming the operation to newsmen on Monday, intelligence Sources said that the arrest followed the directive of the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, to take the battle to criminals across the region.
It was gathered that ACP Victor O. Godfrey, who led operatives of the Scorpion Squad between Sept. 20 and Sept. 28, coordinated the sting operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspects wanted by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The suspects are Abdullahi Garuba, alias Alhaji Ore, 40, from Otkpata, Doma LGA of Nasarawa State; Yusuf Inuwa, alias Alhaji Dabunda, 59, from Nasarawa State; and David Kaika, alias Baba, 29, from Odenigida village, Nasarawa State.
Others include Baba Imaji, female, 36, from Ikpele community, Agatu LGA of Benue State; and Ibrahim Nasiru, alias Pepper, from Usha community, Agatu LGA of Benue State.
The FCT police command recalled that on March 24, 2024, one Nuhu Aminu, 32, was arrested at Nyanya bus terminal in Abuja with 488 rounds of live 7.62 × 39mm AK-47 ammunition.
The suspect however, confessed that the consignment was given to him by Abdullahi Garuba (Alhaji Ore) for delivery to bandits in Zamfara and Katsina States.
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After months of intelligence-driven operations by security agencies, the above-mentioned suspects, who had gone into hiding, were arrested and they confessed to the crimes. Exhibits were recovered.
The suspects allegedly supplied arms and ammunition to bandits responsible for the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, several kidnappings in the FCT, and to notorious bandit leaders, including Kachallah Babangida and Kachallah Yakubu, in Zamfara and Katsina States.
Kaika confessed to selling several AK-47 rifles at ₦2.6 million each and live ammunition at ₦3,600 per round, while Alhaji Ore admitted to concealing arms and ammunition in red-oil jerry cans for transport to bandit hideouts.
Recovered items include two AK-47 rifles with defaced breech numbers, one locally made pistol, 2,186 rounds of 7.62 × 39mm ammunition, two cartridges, and five operational motorcycles of different models.