The Nasarawa state Police command has arrested nine suspected criminals in possession of 38 rifles and 4,264 rounds of live ammunition in the state. 

The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed Jauro, stated this Tuesday at a press briefing at the Police state headquarters, Lafia.

CP Jauro stated that based on credible intelligence, he was notified that gun runners from Benue state were sighted in a forest bordering Kardarko offloading arms and ammunition for onward distribution to criminal partners.

“I personally led a team of operatives to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects abandoned their luggage and fled deep into the forest,” he said.

He added that a search of the scene led to the recovery of the four AK-49 rifles, three AK-47 rifles, one GS rifle, kne Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), 11 magazines, 4,046 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Also 11 rounds of 5.5mm ammunition, 132 rounds of 38mm ammunition, and 75 cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

Similarly, the CP said on 3lst August, 2025, at about O300hrs, operatives attached to E’ Division Shabu, arrested two notorious gun manufacturers, James Philip and Alpha Philip, both males of Feferuwa area, Lafia LGA.

Further investigation led to the arrest of four major buyers and distributors of the fabricated arms, to include  Usman Abubakar, male, of Shendam Road, Lafia: Yakubu Danladi, male, of Mararaba Akunza, Lafia: Usman Kasimu alias Bobo, male, of Bukan Sidi, Lafia and Abdullahi Adamu, male, also of Bukan Sidi, Lafia.

He said 13 long-range single-barrel guns, 10 shotguns, one revolver gun, three swords, various criminal charms. three  police uniforms and a face cap, three gun-manufacturing machines and tools were recovered as exhibits.