Police Bust Suspected Arms Trafficking Syndicate in North Central

Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) have arrested suspected members of a firearms trafficking syndicate allegedly operating across parts of the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.

The arrests, according to the Nigeria Police Force, followed intelligence-led operations that also uncovered suspected kidnapping networks and resulted in the recovery of firearms and ammunition.

The cases were among those highlighted during a press briefing by the FID-IRT in Abuja on Wednesday, as the police detailed recent operations against kidnapping, armed robbery, illegal firearms dealing and other related crimes.

In one of the major operations, operatives launched an investigation on June 22, 2026, following actionable intelligence on a suspected firearms trafficking syndicate operating in the North-Central region.

The investigation led to the arrest of Yakubu Danladi Pam, from whom a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle was recovered.

Police said further investigation linked Pam to the alleged illegal supply and sale of firearms, including receiving weapons from another suspect, Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain, for onward distribution.

Hussain was subsequently arrested in Jos, Plateau State, on June 30, where operatives recovered one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition.

The police said preliminary findings indicated that Hussain was involved in the supply and transportation of firearms across the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.

Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate, the police said.

In another operation, eight suspects were transferred to the Intelligence Response Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser on June 4, following their arrests at different locations in Imo and Rivers states.

The suspects were identified as Mohammadu Sani, Moses Daniel, Usman Mohammad, Aliyu Manu, Ibrahim Mohammed, Samaila Ibrahim, Ahmed Abubakar and Umaru Abdullahi.

Sani, described by investigators as the alleged gang leader, was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

According to the police, preliminary investigation showed that the group had relocated from Kogi State to Port Harcourt and was allegedly involved in several kidnapping operations in Rivers and Imo states.

The suspects were also linked to the alleged illegal procurement and supply of firearms, with police saying a prima facie case had been established against them.

The FID-IRT also reported the arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper, Idris Mohammed, alias Yellow, in Bauchi State on July 28.

Mohammed was allegedly found with a red 2012 Toyota Corolla said to have been abandoned during a kidnapping operation.

The vehicle was recovered and subsequently released to the complainant, while another suspect, Mohammed Bello Adams, was arrested in Nasarawa State in connection with Mohammed’s activities.

Investigators linked the suspects to the alleged kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and Abdullahi Abubakar, for which ransoms of N7.5 million and N3 million respectively were reportedly paid.

In a separate case involving an alleged attempt to fake a kidnapping, police arrested Nansik Wuyep Sule, 34; Catherine Davou; and Luka Emmanuel Butdam.

Sule was arrested in Jos on July 23 following intelligence received by the FID.

During interrogation, police said Sule confessed to conspiring with Davou, the mother of a two-year-old boy, to stage the child’s abduction.

The child was allegedly hidden at Davou’s residence while Butdam was accused of calling the child’s grandmother and demanding N15 million ransom.

The three suspects were arrested and the child rescued. He was taken to hospital for medical attention before being handed over to his biological father.

The police also reported an operation in Katsina State that led to the arrest of six suspects allegedly involved in the buying and selling of arms and ammunition.

The suspects, identified as Kabiru Mohammed, Muhammad Sani, Ibrahim Musa Lawan, Yusuf Shuaibu, Manner Abdulmumuni and Fatima Ishiaku, were arrested on March 29 following an intelligence operation involving the interception of phone communications.

Police said 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four rounds of red cartridges, a long knife, multiple charms and N220,000 cash were recovered and registered as exhibits.

Three alleged collaborators — Alhaji Abdulbashir, Alhaji Ado Garba and Alhaji Babban Kifi — were said to be at large.

According to the police, the collaborators allegedly lured the suspects into the arms business because of its perceived profitability, while the female suspect was allegedly used as a courier to deliver ammunition to prospective customers.

The Force said the operations underscored the importance of intelligence-led policing, sustained investigations and collaboration among security agencies in tackling criminal networks.

It vowed to intensify efforts against kidnapping syndicates, firearms trafficking, violent criminal enterprises and fraudulent schemes, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide useful information through established channels.