Police Arrest 10 Over Firearms Trafficking, Recover AK-47, Type 06 Rifles

By Adebola Muili

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 10 suspects in separate intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks allegedly involved in the unlawful possession, trafficking and distribution of firearms across parts of the country.

The operations, conducted by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 58 rounds of live ammunition.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Abuja.

In one of the operations conducted across Imo and Rivers states, eight suspects were arrested in connection with a suspected criminal syndicate allegedly involved in kidnapping and illegal firearms procurement.

According to Iniedu, the principal suspect, identified as Mohammadu Sani, was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The police spokesperson said investigation revealed that Sani had previously operated in Kogi State before relocating to Port Harcourt, where he allegedly commenced efforts to reconstitute his criminal network.

He added that findings further linked members of the syndicate to kidnapping operations in parts of Rivers and Imo states, while the recovered firearm was allegedly procured through a firearms trafficking intermediary.

In a separate operation targeting a suspected firearms trafficking syndicate in the North-Central region, operatives arrested Yakubu Danladi Pam and Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain.

Police said one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in the supply, transportation and distribution of firearms across parts of the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.

The Nigeria Police Force said it had intensified efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicates and further disrupt the illegal movement of firearms allegedly used to facilitate violent crimes.

The Force said the operations were part of its ongoing intelligence-led efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in firearms trafficking and related offences.