Operatives of the FCT Police Command have recovered two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition after trailing a suspected arms supply syndicate from Abuja to Dajin Madam Forest, located between Plateau and Bauchi states.
The recovery followed a follow-up investigation into the arrest of four suspects accused of supplying arms, ammunition and illicit substances to bandits. The suspects were paraded at the FCT Police Command headquarters on July 11.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said operatives of its Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out the operation on August 2 after one of the suspects, Musbahu Ishaq, provided credible intelligence during interrogation.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that the criminal syndicate maintained one of its hideouts in Dajin Madam Forest.
The investigation also established that Ishaq allegedly obtained arms and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan before supplying them to Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin who is currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State.
Police said a thorough search of the hideout led to the recovery of the two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition concealed in the forest.
The command said efforts were ongoing to dismantle the network and bring all those involved to justice.
“Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the criminal syndicate currently at large, recover additional arms linked to the network, and charge all suspects to court,” the statement said.
Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, assuring residents that operations against kidnapping and organised crime would be sustained.
“Ongoing operations will continue until all members of the syndicate are apprehended and brought to justice,” the commissioner said.
He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines to support ongoing security operations.
