Zamfara Police Arrest Alleged Algerian Arms Dealer and Others
The police in Zamfara have apprehended a 58-year-old Algerian national suspected of being involved in cross-border arms trafficking. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Dalijan, revealed this in Gusau on Tuesday.
Dalijan stated that, over the past three weeks, the police seized 16 AK-47 rifles following multiple raids. Additionally, they recovered one double-barrel shotgun and a locally-made pistol from an arms manufacturer located in Jos, Plateau.
Acting on intelligence, the police traced and arrested the arms manufacturer in Jos and a regional arms trafficker from Algeria at the Illela border. The Algerian suspect, who claimed to have been involved in the illegal trade for eight years, reportedly supplies arms to bandits across the northwest.
At the time of his arrest, four AK-47 rifles were seized from him. The police also detained other suspects, including those involved in supplying motorcycles to bandits, and recovered live ammunition along with N2.5 million in cash. Furthermore, several illegal gold miners were arrested, and mining excavators were confiscated.
Dalijan emphasized that the ban on illegal mining, enforced by both the federal and state governments, remains in effect.
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