78-Yr-Old Man, 38 Other Suspected Criminals, Arrested With 2 RPGs, 13 AK-47 Rifles, 58 Wraps of Dynamite

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From Felix Mordi

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested 39 suspects, including a 78-year-old man, from whom various sophisticated weapons, comprising 2 RPG launchers, 13 AK47 rifles, four locally-made pistols, 58 wraps of dynamite, 769 AK47 live ammunition, 14 AK-47 magazines and 30 live cartridges, were recovered.

“Also recovered from them were mobile phones, 157 SIM cards, amongst other incriminating items”, a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer (CP), Frank Mba said.

The suspects’ arrests was sequel to their involvement in series of violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, arms trafficking and cybercrime, in some parts of the country.

According to the police, the arrest was as a result of unrelenting investigative and operational efforts aimed at bringing the perpetrators of the crimes to justice and giving succour to their victims.

Notable among the cases, Mba said, was the arrest of a four-man notorious trans-border arms smuggling syndicate in Cross River State of which, the principal suspect is 36-year-old Ntui Lambert, a native of Ikom, in Cross River State.

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Lambert has dual nationality; his father, a Nigerian, married to a Cameroonian woman.

The suspect, whose arrest was based on intelligence-led police operation, was nabbed with different calibre of sophisticated weapons, made up of 58 wraps of explosive materials, suspected to be dynamite, and ammunition.

“Further investigations by the police team revealed that the suspect engages in trans-border arms smuggling with his three other gang members, who are members of a secessionist group in Cameroun”, the police spokesman said.

Also arrested was a 46-year-old Yahaya Zakari (a.k.a Excellency) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, whose gang was a specialist in cybercrime.

In his description, Mba said, “Yahaya is a member of a cybercrime syndicate that specializes in stealing mobile phones of innocent citizens, and using their SIM cards to gain access to their bank accounts, to carry out unauthorized financial transactions. Other members of his gang are Shehu Aliyu (m), 22; Umar Abubakar (m), 42, and Abubakar Mohammed (m), 41. A total of 157 SIM cards were recovered from the gang by the Police team”.

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The statement further revealed that, from a 78-year-old Okala Joseph was recovered two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers were also recovered in Makurdi, Benue State, adding that police investigations “revealed that the suspect is a middleman between criminal suppliers of the weapon and the end-users. He is currently assisting the Police with vital information that will further help in breaking the supply chain and arresting other suspects”.

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), fdc, NPM has reassured citizens that the Force remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal acts are brought to book and justice served to their victims. He enjoined members of the public to be vigilant and promptly report any suspicious act to the Police. He further advised that citizens should exercise necessary caution in the use of their mobile phones, especially those with SIM cards linked to their bank accounts”, CP Mba said, stating further that on completion of investigation, the suspects would be charged to court

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