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Police arrest 2,700 suspects in crackdown on gunrunning syndicate
Police arrest 2,700 suspects in crackdown on gunrunning syndicate
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, has dismantled a notorious gunrunning syndicate and arrested more than 2,700 suspects linked to various criminal activities in the past month.
The suspects include armed robbers, kidnappers, and murderers, representing a significant milestone in the force’s ongoing battle against violent crimes.
The operation, part of the IGP’s intensified crime-fighting strategies, highlights the force’s determination to restore security across the country.
This development was revealed on Tuesday by Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a press release shared via X (formerly Twitter).
It read, “The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, remains relentless in its effort towards ensuring that the perpetrators of heinous crimes across the country are brought to book.”
In a month, multiple suspects linked to violent crimes have been arrested, and numerous criminal activities addressed.
“Over the last month, the Nigeria Police Force recorded the arrest of 295-armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, 271 murder/homicide suspects, and 71 suspects for the unlawful possession of firearms.
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“Also arresting 199 suspects for sexual-related offences, 143 suspects for cultism, and 1575 suspects arrested for other various crimes. The Force also recovered 185 firearms and a total number of 4087 ammunition of various calibres, 111 vehicles were recovered, and 129 kidnapped victims rescued,” it added.
The police strike a major blow against a gunrunning syndicate in northern Nigeria.
It further read, “In more recent events, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have made an outstanding breakthrough in the fight against several types of violent crimes across the country, one of which is the dismantling and arrest of a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.
“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato ‘m’, John Danladi ‘m’, Mohammed Munkail ‘m’, Manasseh William ‘m’ and Muhammadu Haddi ‘m’, were arrested with 1 PKT Machine Gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95 rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition. The leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon-handling instructor at a Boko Haram camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.”
The police assure the public of their commitment to maintaining law and order through innovative strategies.
“The Inspector General of Police once again reassures members of the public of the Police Force’s dedication to protecting lives and property. To this effect, the IGP has emplaced several strategies and tactics aimed at combating various forms of crimes in all spheres. The IGP hereby calls for citizens’ full support in actualizing this goal and establishing a utopia in our dear country.”
The police continue their pursuit of justice with professionalism and adherence to the law.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in the pursuit of ensuring crimes and criminalities are brought to its lowest in accordance with the Rule of Law and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out extant duties of protection of lives and properties,” it concluded.
In April 2024, NPF stated that 1,346 suspects had been arrested for various offences, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, gun running, and rape, nationwide.
The police also said they recovered and seized 143 firearms, 741 ammunition, 72 stolen vehicles and have rescued 461 kidnapped victims across the country.
Gunrunning, or the illegal trafficking and smuggling of firearms, is a pervasive issue contributing to violence and insecurity in many regions, including Nigeria.
Criminal groups, insurgents, and militant organisations often rely on these illicit networks to obtain weapons, fueling conflicts and violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and terrorism.
In Nigeria, gunrunning has been closely linked to insurgent activities, particularly in the northern regions, where groups like Boko Haram and bandits have used smuggled arms to sustain their operations.
Police arrest 2,700 suspects in crackdown on gunrunning syndicate
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200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
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Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
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