VGN arrests two for smuggling 73 guns in Kebbi

Kebbi State Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has arrested two persons for allegedly smuggling 73 locally-made guns and 450 other weapons into the state.

Confirming the incident to newsmen yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the Commandant, Sanusi Gazah, added that men of the VGN attached to Zamare Waterside in Yauri Council were the ones that handed the suspects and weapons over to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Explaining that the seized weapons were concealed inside bags of paddy rice, he stressed that his officers subjected the vehicle to thorough inspection.

“They intercepted one Canter truck loaded with bags of paddy rice. The weapons were concealed inside the bags. When they arrested the two suspects and impounded the truck, they invited Customs and police officers that were around. They took the seized vehicle to Customs office where they discovered 73 guns inside the bags of rice. Also, 450 weapons (cartridges) were found.

“They arrested two suspects while two are at large. The two suspects and the weapons have been handed over to the Customs,” he said. Commander of VGN at Zamare Waterside, Zakari Zamare, told newsmen in Yauri yesterday that the group intercepted the vehicle after it was ferried by boat from the River Niger in Zamare to the upland.

He added: “We used our local equipment to penetrate the bags of rice and discovered metals inside. That led to the opening of the bags. In the first bag, we discovered 14 local guns.”

To prevent jungle justice by locals, the VGN operatives took the suspected driver and his assistant to the nearest police station for onward transfer to the Customs’ office.

The commandant said the owners of the goods were trailing the truck, and as soon as the suspects were apprehended, the owners disappeared. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NCS, Joseph Attah, confirmed the incident in Abuja. His words: “Upon careful examination, the bags were found to contain 73 locally manufactured guns and 891 cartridges.”