Following a joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and other sister agencies, the DSS has announced the interception of arms and ammunition and cash from criminal gangs and notorious kidnapper.
The interceptions, according to a statement signed by the DSS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Afunanya, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), were carried out in various locations across the federation including Kogi, Adamawa and Abuja.
Among those arrested and placed in custody are a retired army colonel, who leads a gang, 20-year-old notorious kidnapper, and a notorious gunrunner.
The statement in full:
The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it carried out a joint operation with sister security agencies in Kogi State on 26th March, 2023.
During the operation, the security team intercepted a six man criminal gang at Gegu Beki, along the Lokoja-Abuja Road.
While the gang includes Col AU Suleiman (rtd), Barr. MK Aminu, Kabir Abdullahi, Isah Umar, Kadir Echi and Adama Abdulkarim, items recovered from the members are: One Pump action rifle; Four catridges; One AK47 empty shell and the sum of eleven thousand, thirty naira.
Yesterday, 25th March, 2023, Service operatives apprehended 20year suspected notorious kidnapper, Haruna Adamu at Fotta village in Gombi LGA, Adamawa State. At the point of arrest, one AK-47 rifle, one magazine and four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
On 23rd March, 2023, one Aminu Ibrahim, a suspected gunrunner was arrested along Kubwa Expressway, Abuja by the Service operatives while on his way from Nasarawa State to deliver four hundred and thirty-two rounds of 7.62 x39mm caliber ammunition concealed in a four litre gallon of palm oil to a bandit in Niger State.
The sum of twenty-one thousand, four hundred Naira was also recovered from the suspect.
Earlier on 22nd March, 2023, Babangida Ibrahim, an arms courier to bandits in Zamfara State was apprehended along Bukuru in Jos South LGA, Plateau State.
Recovered from him were four hundred and sixty-eight rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition and the sum of twenty one thousand, ninety naira.
All the suspects have been taken into custody and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Service and relevant security agencies are carrying out further investigations into related matters in parts of the country.
It should be noted that the Service will continue to collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to curb crime in the country.
Members of the public are enjoined to avail the agencies relevant information for counter actions against criminal and subversive elements.
