Police arrest 75-year-old man, one other for alleged arms trafficking from Benue to Kwara
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 75-year-old suspected arms trafficker, Dahiru Abdullahi, alongside one Lawal Sani, 40, for allegedly smuggling a large cache of firearms and ammunition from Benue to Kwara State.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the arrest, which followed credible and actionable intelligence, was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in a coordinated operation in Lafia, the state capital.
Nansel confirmed the arrest and provided details of the seizure, stating that the two suspects, Abdullahi, a cattle trader from Kaduna State, and Sani, a commercial bus driver from Katsina were intercepted while transporting the weapons in a grey Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AAA 926 XL.
Items recovered from the vehicle include: 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, 4 empty magazines.
The suspects allegedly confessed to being paid N500,000 to transport the weapons to Ilorin, Kwara State—an operation believed to be linked to arming criminal syndicates across the region.
“This arrest sends a clear message that Nasarawa State will not be used as a corridor for criminal activity.
“We remain resolute in our mission to dismantle illegal arms networks and safeguard the lives and property of our citizens.” said Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed
The Command has launched a full-scale investigation to identify and arrest other members of the trafficking network.
