The Nasarawa State Police Command, in the wee hours of Wednesday, arrested two arms dealers conveying high-grade firearms from Benue State to Ilorin, Kwara State.

There are indications that armed herdsmen wreaking havoc on locals in Benue communities are beginning to move, following the announcement of the arrival of the Chief of Army Staff, who relocated to Benue State to boost military offensives against the ongoing terror attacks over the past two weeks.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ranham Nansel, made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia.

The Police stated that the latest interception of arms in the state is a major and significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal arms trafficking and terror activities in the region.

The arrest, according to the Police, was made possible through credible intelligence.

He said, “Two suspected gun runners travelling through Lafia in possession of a large cache of high-grade firearms and ammunition en route to Ilorin, Kwara State, from Benue State.

“Following the swift deployment of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, an intense and meticulous operation led to the arrest of the following suspects: Lawal Sani, 40 years old, a commercial bus driver from Makwalla area, Funtua LGA, Katsina State; and Dahiru Abdullahi, 75 years old, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa,
Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, known to operate within Keffi Cattle Market, Nasarawa State.”

The items seized, as revealed by the Police, include: one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifles, one TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, four empty magazines, and a Toyota Hiace bus, grey in color, registration number AAA 926 XL.

According to the Police, the suspects confessed to being paid ₦500,000 to transport the weapons from Benue to Kwara State—a transaction that could have armed multiple criminal networks.

He said, “They have been taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation is currently underway to uncover the network behind this operation.”

The Commissioner of Police further stressed that this operation is a resounding message to all criminal elements, noting that Nasarawa State is not a safe corridor for crime.

“We remain unshaken in our resolve to dismantle illegal arms networks and protect the lives of innocent Nigerians. We call on the public to stay alert and continue reporting suspicious activity through the official hotlines: 08112692680, 08032564469, 08036157659, 08037461715, 07032532391,” he said, assuring continued, decisive action against threats to peace and security.