Police Dismantle Gun Trafficking Operation, Apprehend 2,740 Suspects

The Nigeria Police have apprehended Taimako Mato, the leader of a gun running syndicate, along with four others.

Mato, who was a weapons instructor at a Boko Haram camp, was caught during a police operation in August.

Officers recovered a machine gun, several rounds of ammunition, and other dangerous weapons from the group.

The Force’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, shared this news on Tuesday, emphasising that these arrests were part of a broader effort to crack down on violent crime across the country.

In addition to the syndicate bust, police arrested 295 armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, and 271 people linked to murder or homicide.

They also seized 185 firearms, over 4,000 rounds of ammunition, and 111 stolen vehicles.

Officers were able to rescue 129 kidnapped victims during these operations.

Adejobi also mentioned that 71 people were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, 199 for sexual offenses, 143 for cult-related activities, and 1,575 others for various crimes.

These efforts are all part of the police’s drive to curb crime across Nigeria.

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has been leading this effort, rolling out new strategies to tackle crime in every corner of the country.

He urged citizens to continue supporting the police in their mission to create safer communities.

Egbetokun reassured Nigerians that the police are fully committed to protecting lives and property, and he called on the public to remain vigilant and cooperative.

He emphasized that everyone’s help is needed to wipe out crime and make Nigeria a more peaceful place.

Meanwhile, three major oil marketers are anticipating the arrival of vessels carrying imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, this week, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Industry insiders revealed that approximately 141 million litres of PMS are en route to Nigeria, a development facilitated by the full deregulation of the downstream oil sector by the Federal Government.