The Nasarawa State Police Command has intercepted a significant illegal arms trafficking operation and arrested two suspects linked to the crime.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the incident occurred in the early hours of June 4, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m. He said the suspects were intercepted in Lafia while transporting a large cache of sophisticated firearms and ammunition en route to Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the Command swiftly deployed its Anti-Kidnapping Unit, leading to the arrest of the suspects,” the statement read.
The suspects have been identified as Lawal Sani, a 40-year-old commercial bus driver from Makwalla, Funtua LGA in Katsina State, and Dahiru Abdullahi, a 75-year-old cattle trader from Angwan Dosa, Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, known to operate at the Keffi Cattle Market in Nasarawa State.
Items recovered from the suspects include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifles, one TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO-caliber ammunition, four empty magazines, and a grey Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AAA 926 XL.
According to the police, the suspects confessed to being paid ₦500,000 to transport the weapons from Benue to Kwara State—an operation that could have equipped multiple criminal groups.
“They have been taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation is currently underway to uncover the network behind this operation,” the statement added.
Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu Nadada, emphasized the significance of the interception, declaring it a strong warning to criminal elements in the state.
“Nasarawa State is not a safe corridor for crime. We remain unshaken in our resolve to dismantle illegal arms networks and protect the lives of innocent Nigerians,” he stated.
The Command also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity using the official hotlines: 08112692680, 08032564469, 08036157659, 08037461715, and 07032532391. “We assure continued, decisive action against threats to peace and security,” the statement concluded.
