Police Apprehend Three Suspected Gunrunners Linked to Plateau Community Attack

In a significant breakthrough, the police have arrested three individuals suspected to be part of a gunrunning syndicate, with connections to the December 24 attack on communities in Plateau. The announcement came on Tuesday during a media briefing in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The arrests were made following an order from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, who directed tactical strategies to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice. The suspects were found in possession of an ash-coloured golf car, one AK-47 rifle, one AK-49 rifle, 1,000 rounds of live ammunition, and five magazines.

Efforts are underway to apprehend others involved in the attacks, with ongoing investigations expected to yield further updates. This recent development follows the earlier arrest of nine suspects on December 13, 2023, related to an attack and murder in the Gaube area of Kuje Area Council in the FCT.

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Adejobi detailed that six of the suspects were identified as members of the hunters and forest guards in Kuje, confessing to the commission of the crime. The victims, who were in transit from Keffi, Nassarawa State, to Niger and Kwara states, were attacked and killed by unknown persons. The suspects abandoned the bodies in Kabi forest and made away with their Bajaj motorcycle.

Additionally, a suspected armed robbery and kidnapping kingpin terrorizing Nasarawa State and its environs were arrested, possessing an AK-49 rifle and ammunition. The suspect, during the investigation, revealed another suspect at large who owned an AK-47 rifle used by the gang.

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Adejobi highlighted the overall success of police operatives, with a total of 67 suspects arrested for various criminal offenses. Recoveries included 5,454 rounds of live ammunition, 300 live cartridges, 68 rifles, 19 different brands of vehicles, and four motorcycles. Additionally, 23 daggers/swords, 50 empty ammunition shells, eight different makes of handsets, one POS machine, and 33 different ATM cards were seized.

The police assured continued efforts through technical intelligence to arrest the remaining suspects and recover any outstanding firearms.