Army Uncovers New Arms Smuggling Tactics

Suspected Arm Dealers

From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja
The Army yesterday made what appeared like a breakthrough when they intercepted a vehicle with four AK47 rifles and a sub-machine gun, 280 rounds of .72mm ammunitions hidden in the engine of a Volkswagen Passat wagon car marked BJ 574 NSR at a checkpoint near Abuja.

They also arrested a kingpin based in Kano who stocks arms and ammunition and issues same out to his "boys", who use them for nefarious activities including armed robberies, killings and other anti social activities.

Two youths who appeared to be brothers, Hassan and Hussein Abdul alleged to have posed as garbage collectors were also arrested for cutting cables near British embassy which made the Brigade of Guards Spokes person, Captain Njideka Agwu who paraded the suspects at Aguiyi-Ironsi Cantonment, Abuja to appeal to the public for vigilance.

Leader of the gang caught with the arms and ammunition, Abubakar Mohammed said he was issuing the weapons to his boys for use to recover their cows rustled from them in Jos and did not deny possession of the arms and ammunition recovered from them.
Agwu said soldiers from 177 Guards Brigade on road block at Gitata, Nasarawa State on a tip off intercepted the vehicle which is fitted with siren and the occupants on sighting the soldiers abandoned the vehicle and fled in different direction.

The soldiers however pursued and apprehended the driver, Abdullahi Lawal.
On interrogation, Lawal confessed to their mission and named those who hired him to ferry the deadly weapons led to the arrest of the others while some are still at large.

Items recovered from Mohammed on raiding his hideout include regular police uniforms, some with name tags, mobile police uniforms, United Nations Peace Corps Uniform and berets, black uniform also used by the police, poisoned arrows with devised launcher, waterproof jack boots, knives and various bayonets.

There were five Ak47 magazines, 27 rounds of SMG ammunition and charms. All the rifles had different currencies stuffed near the barrel of the gun which the suspects mean, "The more people you kill, the more money you get.”

Agwu said they went to Kaena, Kano state to arrest some members of the gang who steal and render account to their boss who supply them guns while others are still at large.

The army said the style of smuggling was a serious threat and they have to do all to mop up all arms in illegal hands as they pose potent danger to everyone.

Asked the possibility of the arms having links with the killings in Jos, Plateau State, Agwu said there could be such possibility but that they were still investigating and called on all to give information to security agencies.

On the inconveniences caused by road blocks in Abuja, Agwu said, “The public should be patient with soldiers at road blocks because they might be acting on information and they should also know that what they are doing is for the interest of the public. If not for this interception, who knows who the next victim would have happened.”