BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Police high command has said that on May 25, 2019, its operatives in the Intelligence Response Unit (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and the Special Forces attached to Operation Puff Adder have dismantled a 4-man international arms-smuggling syndicate.
It said that the criminal gang operates between parts of North African, the Sahel region and West African Countries, adding that a total of 6000 AK47 live ammunition were recovered from them.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba explained that the 4-man syndicate comprising Ojoomo Olugbenga 45years, who is a native of Akure Central, Ondo State, Oladimeji Adeogun 50years from Ido LGA of Oyo State, Habib Musibau 24years old native of Oluyole LGA of Oyo State and Thomas Olumuyiwa 54yrs old, native of Ado-odo Ota LGA of Ogun State, were arrested at Saki town, Nigeria-Benin Republic border in Oyo State.
Mba further said that investigation reveals that the syndicate specializes in smuggling small arms, light weapons and ammunition from North Africa through the Sahel region and supplying same to their criminal partners that include kidnappers, armed robbers, political thugs and other criminal elements, in Nigeria and other West African countries.
He also said: “In addition, another set of 24 AK47 rifles, four pump action guns, 11 Dane guns, 10 English Pistols, Two single barrel guns, one set of army camouflage uniform and 22 live cartridges were recovered from other criminal gangs in different parts of the country.
“A total of 38 suspects were arrested for their different roles in various criminal operations ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and cattle rustling.”
Mba said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, while appreciating members of the public for providing useful information to the Police, also commended his men for this and many other feats.
The IGP re-assured the nation that the Police will continually work round the clock along with other security agencies towards ensuring improved border security, control of arms proliferation and combating kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across the country.
