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Police Parade 10 Suspected Gunrunners, Including Reverend Father, in Abuja

The Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) today 3rd February 2025, paraded a Reverend Father and 10 other Gun running syndicate who were arrested based on credible intelligence received regarding the activities of a gunrunning syndicate in Plateau State.Amongst the suspected gunrunners arrested is a Reverend Father, according to Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Reverend Father was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) with 1 AK-47 rifle and 2 rounds of 7.88mm live ammunitions.According to the Reverend Father, he acquired the AK-47 for self-defence against attacks in his Church. In Nigeria, the Firearms Control Act of 1959 and the Nigerian Fire Arms Act of 1990 prohibit the possession of firearms without a license. The Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act also criminalizes the illegal possession of firearms. Firearms Act 1959 makes it a criminal offence to manufacture, assemble, or repair firearms and ammunition without a permit. This carries a minimum 10 years in prison.The laws relating to the possession of firearms in Nigeria are the Firearms Act and the Firearms Regulation. These laws make provision for and regulate the possession of and dealing in firearms and ammunition.According to the Firearms Act, firearms mean“any lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged.”Ammunition means “a component part of any firearm and includes shots, bullets, missiles, etc. The Firearms Act highlights the permitted and prohibited forms of firearms capable of being in the possession of private citizens of Nigeria.”Section 3 of the Firearms Act provides that“no person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm or ammunition except in accordance with a license granted by the President acting in his discretion”.Also, 8 suspects belonging to a gunrunning syndicate operating within Plateau State and its environs were paraded before the media. The suspects identified as Joseph Tara ‘m’, Victor Ali Pam ‘m’, Abua Yusuf ‘m’, Bako Isa ‘m’, Salamatu Iliya ‘f’, Solomon Gbarale ‘m’, Musa Arine ‘m’, and Bitrus Chung ‘m’, were arrested after credible intelligence had led operatives of the FID-IRT to the first suspect and consequently led the operatives to the discovery of a large cache of arms concealed inside a vehicle doormat belonging to the syndicate. The exhibits recovered during this operation includes 12 rounds of 7.88mm live ammunitions, 8 Fabricated AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated revolver guns, 4 fabricated semi-automatic pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, and 1105 live AK47 ammunition.The suspects confessed to having taken delivery of the recovered firearms from a notorious firearms fabricator known as Gyang, who is currently at large and believed to be based in Vom, Plateau State. The suspects further admitted that they were en route to deliver these weapons to criminal elements operating within Plateau, Kaduna, and surrounding areas when they were intercepted.The operatives of the FID-IRT also arrested one Amos Sunday Gyang ‘m’ at Plateau State in possession of a semi-automatic pistol he claimed to have found hidden inside a cushion of an apartment he had rented. According to the suspect, he neither reported the discovery to the relevant authorities nor took any step to surrender the weapon, but kept the weapon for intentions known to him.Members of the public should be aware that it is a crime to be found in possession of a weapon without proper licensing. In the case of discovering any weapon, citizens should ensure to notify the police and avoid any sort of implication.Based on credible intelligence, the FID-IRT operatives apprehended one Alhaji Tanko, a 60-year-old male from Shimarka Village, located in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was found in possession of one AK-47 rifle, along with 16 rounds of live ammunition.During interrogation, Alhaji Tanko confessed that he had purchased the rifle from an individual identified as Yayafi, who is currently at large. Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the said Yayafi. When questioned about the purpose of possessing such a high-powered weapon, the suspect claimed it was intended for his personal protection.www.twitter.com/spyetv