November 30, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Police on Tuesday said its operatives have arrested a suspect for allegedly serving as an “errand boy” for bandits in the Northeast and North-Central parts of the country.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CP Frank Mba, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja.
He said the suspect, Mohammed Abdullahi Dayabu, was arrested on 10 Nov. in Saminaka in Kaduna state while conveying 250 rounds of live ammunition and five AK-47 magazines to bandits in Niger state.
“The suspect works with some bandits and his task is to ferry weapons from suppliers to the bandits. He operates with a Volkswagen Golf 3 saloon car, bought for him by one of the bandits with an agreement that he will take ownership of the car upon delivery for weapons five times,” he said.
He said efforts are being intensified by operatives to arrest all suspects in connection with the deal.
Mba also said that six suspected members of a car robbery gang had also been arrested by operatives of the Police Special Tactical Squad (STS).
According to him, the suspects work in a coordinated manner, stealing cars from different parts of Nigeria and smuggling them to the Niger Republic.
He said the gang has a standby buyer in Niger Republic who works on the cars, if necessary, and maintains them for more economic value before sending them back to Nigeria for sale.
According to Mba, the car buyer in Niger Republic is also a dealer in weapons, paying for the cars in cash or with weapons.
He said the Nigeria Police is working with INTERPOL to ensure the arrest of the suspect in Niger Republic.
Mba said the suspects were among the 32 suspects arrested by the police over banditry, homicide, unlawful possession of weapons, trafficking in drugs and other heinous crimes.
He said 19 AK-47 rifles, three revolver pistols, two G-3 rifles, one sub-machine gun, one general-purpose machine gun and different types of knives were recovered from the suspects.
Mba added that other items recovered from the suspects were 17 vehicles of different types and a total of 453 rounds of live ammunition.
