Plateau killings: Three gunrunners busted, guns, ammunition recovered – Police High Command

Three suspected members of a gun running syndicate have been apprehended in connection with the December 24, 2023 bloody attacks on some communities in Plateau State that left at least 160 people dead, the Nigerian Police High Command has said.

The arrest of the suspects followed an order by the Police Inspector-General, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, to emplace tactical strategies to bring to book, the perpetrators of the attack.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the names of the suspects as Ahmed Sulaimon, Balikisu Aliyu and Aboki Samuel.

Adejobi said one ash-coloured Golf car, one AK-47 rifle, one AK-49 rifle, 1,000 rounds of live ammunition and five magazines were recovered from the suspects.

The police spokesman said efforts were being made by the police to apprehend others involved in the attacks, adding that the public would be updated as events unfold in the attack.

Adejobi disclosed that nine suspects were on Dec. 13, 2023, arrested by police operatives over attack and murder of three Fulanis in Gaube area of Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

He said the suspects were arrested following a report that three Fulanis who were on transit from Keffi, Nassarawa State, to Niger/Kwara states were attacked and killed by unknown persons.

Following the report, operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) swiftly swung into action and arrested nine suspects, the Police Assistant Commissioner said.

The police spokesman said six of the suspects were identified as members of the hunters and forest guards in Kuje.

Adejobi said the suspects, who had confessed to the commission of the crime had abandoned their bodies at Kabi forest and made away with their Bajaj motorcycle to an unknown location at Takuba village in Kuje.

The corpses were photographed, recovered, examined and confirmed dead by a medical practitioner before they were identified and released to their families for burial, he said.

He said the deceased’s Bajaj motorcycle was also recovered, adding that investigation was still ongoing in the matter.

Adejobi said police operatives had also, arrested a suspected armed robbery and kidnap kingpin, terrorizing Nasarawa State and its environs for being in possession of one AK 49 rifle and ammunition.

He said the suspect, who uses the riffle and ammunition for robbery and kidnapping activities, was arrested following credible intelligence.

The police spokesman said the suspect had confessed to the police, during investigation, that another suspect, currently at large was in possession of one AK 47 rifle, used by the gang to terrorise Nasarawa State.

According to him, efforts are in place through technical intelligence to arrest the fleeing suspect and recover the firearm.

Adejobi said a total of 67 suspects were arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police over various criminal offences..

Items recovered include 5,454 rounds of different calibre of live ammunition, 300 live cartridges, 68 rifles, 19 different brands of vehicle and four motorcycles.

Also retrieved from the suspects are 23 daggers/swords, 50 empty shells of ammunition, 8 different makes of handsets, one POS machine and 33 different ATM cards.