Troops intercept ammunition for bandits in Kaduna community, arrest courier

Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have intercepted a large quantity of ammunition being conveyed to bandits terrorising parts of Kaduna State by a courier around Polewire in Birnin Gwari Local Council.

A statement by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, yesterday, said that credible intelligence information about gun-running activities was forwarded to the state government and in the course of diligent checks, a suspicious-looking vehicle was stopped within the location of interest.

The statement stated: “In another significant breakthrough, troops of Operation Forest Sanity have intercepted a large quantity of ammunition being conveyed to bandits by a courier around Polewire in Birnin Gwari Local Council.

“According to a report forwarded to the Kaduna State Government, the troops followed up on credible intelligence around gunrunning activities, and in the course of diligent checks, stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle within the location of interest.

“A search of the intercepted vehicle – a black Toyota Corolla – revealed more than 2,000 rounds of various grades of ammunition, concealed in different parts of the car.

“After a thorough search of the vehicle, the following precise quantities were recovered: 1,079 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 886 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition, 139 rounds of 7.62mm tracer ammunition and five empty AK-47 magazines were also recovered.

“The driver of the vehicle, one Aminu Abdullahi, is in custody for further investigation.”

It added: “Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for their proactive approach in denying bandits a major supply of ammunition meant to cause more destruction and suffering.”

“The governor warmly appreciated the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, One Division, Maj.-Gen. T.A. Lagbaja, for the latest notable breakthrough recorded.

“Governor El-Rufai charged the security forces to proceed with a thorough investigation of the arrested suspect and intensify efforts towards dismantling gunrunning networks across the state and beyond.”