Authorities in Zamfara State have apprehended a 58-year-old Algerian national suspected of being a key figure in transborder arms trafficking.
The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mohammed Dalijan, disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday.
The police recovered a cache of weapons, including 16 AK-47 rifles, a double-barrel shotgun, and a locally-made pistol, during a series of successful raids over the past three weeks.
According to Dalijan, the double-barrel firearm and the locally crafted pistol were linked to a suspected arms manufacturer arrested in Jos, Plateau State.
“Our intelligence unit traced and apprehended an arms manufacturer in Jos,” Dalijan stated. “Additionally, we tracked and arrested a regional arms trafficker from Algeria at the Illela border point. This Algerian national has confessed to engaging in arms smuggling for the past eight years, supplying weapons to bandits across northwestern states. At the time of his arrest, four AK-47 rifles were recovered from his possession.
The police commissioner also revealed that multiple suspects were arrested in connection with various criminal activities. Among them were bandits and individuals involved in supplying motorcycles, which are frequently used by armed groups for mobility in rural areas. The operation also led to the seizure of live ammunition, N2.5 million in cash, and other incriminating items.
“This operation is a major breakthrough in our fight against insecurity. These weapons are often used to fuel violence, and their removal from circulation is a step toward restoring peace in Zamfara and beyond,” he remarked.
