Operatives from the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested two notorious gunrunners in Zaria, Kaduna State, on December 5, 2024. The suspects, Zubairu Musa and Nasiru Saidu, both natives of Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State, were apprehended during a routine vehicular patrol along the Zaria-Jos Road by officers from the 47 Police Mobile Force Squadron in Zaria.
The police spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, revealed that the suspects were caught in possession of a bag containing eight locally made pump-action guns, one locally made pistol, and 65 live cartridges. Preliminary investigations indicated that the duo was involved in illegal firearms trafficking.
The suspects are currently cooperating with authorities to help identify their accomplices and provide information on the broader gunrunning network operating in Kaduna State.
Kaduna State has been grappling with insecurity, primarily due to the activities of bandits who engage in violent attacks, kidnappings, and robberies across the region. These criminal groups often operate from vast forests in northern Nigeria, extending through states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger, where they have been known to abduct schoolchildren and terrorize local communities.
Kaduna’s Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Abdullahi, praised the officers for their swift action in apprehending the suspects. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Police Command to maintaining law and order in the state and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
In recent weeks, Nigerian military forces have escalated operations against bandits in the northwest, leading to the neutralization of several key bandit leaders, including Halilu Sububu, one of the most wanted criminal figures in the region.