The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old suspected female gun trafficker who was en route to supply ammunition to terrorists.

SP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, made this known to journalists on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital.

Ramhan said that the arrest was made following credible intelligence that Fatima Salisu, a native of Funtua town in Katsina State, was intercepted at Azuba area of Lafia while allegedly transporting a deadly haul of ammunition through Keana and Doma local government areas, en route to deliver the consignment to criminal elements in Katsina State.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence tip-off, Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima J. Mohammed, ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

“The team acted with precision, leading to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of 400 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 81 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing rigorous interrogation as investigators work to dismantle the arms trafficking network and trace its possible links to armed banditry and terrorism.

The Command assured that it remains steadfast in its resolve to rid the state of crime and calls on members of the public to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

Meanwhile, residents of Nasarawa State have expressed worry over the incessant arms trafficking by women to other parts of the country from Nasarawa State.

Several stakeholders are calling on the state and federal governments to launch a detailed investigation as Nasarawa State has become an arms trafficking hub to terror states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna, where bandits continue to hold sway despite fervent military coordinated offensives.

Dr. James Audu, a security expert who expressed serious worries over the incessant arms trafficking from Nasarawa, warned that the proximity of the state to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the seat of power, calls for diligent investigations.

“This is about the fourth time arms traffickers are arrested moving ammunitions from one part of Nasarawa State to states where terrorists are rampaging.

“The government must take serious measures to dig out who is involved and why Nasarawa State has become the supply hub of arms.

“It calls for deep concern, more so as neighbouring Plateau and Benue, where bandits have continued to unleash terror on residents, are alleging that Nasarawa State is the host domain where those terrorists are operating from.

“We are aware Governor Abdullahi Sule is doing everything possible to curtail activities of bandits in the state, though pockets of attacks and killings occur here and there across the state.”

Concerned stakeholders appeal to President Tinubu to order the National Security Adviser, NSA, and other security formations to launch a forensic investigation to unravel why Nasarawa State has continued to serve as an arms reservoir for arms traffickers to patronise.