The Nigeria Police Force has arrested nine suspects and recovered a cache of firearms, ammunition and illicit drugs following coordinated intelligence-led operations across several states.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, during a press briefing at the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) headquarters in Guzape, Abuja.
According to him, the operations, carried out between September and November 2025, targeted gunrunning, arms dealing, drug trafficking and related violent crimes. He said the interventions led to the arrest of nine suspects in at least seven major cases, with the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action rifles, two single-barrel guns, two Beretta pistols, four locally fabricated revolver rifles, four magazines, 35 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, six live cartridges and 24 bags of Indian hemp, among other exhibits.
Among those arrested was a suspected gunrunner, Adamu Zaki Babangida, apprehended in Plateau State, from whom a pump-action rifle and four locally fabricated revolver rifles were recovered. Two other suspects, Chibuke Nnaji and Joshua Izang, also known as “Buffalo,” were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms, including a pump-action gun and two single-barrel guns, with police uncovering a fake gun permit during the investigation.
In Adamawa State, operatives arrested Daudume Bayina, a suspected arms supplier, and recovered two Beretta pistols, ammunition and magazines. Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly supplied arms across border communities between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Police also arrested two suspected arms dealers, John Magah, 45, and Ishaya Stephen, 43, recovering an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, ammunition and cartridges. Investigators alleged that the suspects supplied weapons to bandits operating within Adamawa State and border areas.
In a separate operation, police intercepted a suspected drug supplier, Ifeanyi Egbeke, 40, in Kaduna State, recovering large quantities of tramadol, codeine, injection syrups, hypnos tablets and Indian hemp. The suspect allegedly supplied illicit drugs to criminal groups in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.
Another suspected gunrunner, Salisu Mohammed, also known as “Mande Dawa,” was arrested in Zamfara State, with an AK-47 rifle, magazines and 32 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition recovered. Police said the weapons were allegedly concealed in a bag of millet and meant for delivery to bandits.
Additionally, operatives arrested a trailer driver, Uchenna Ikpe, along the Lagos–Abuja route, recovering 24 bags of Indian hemp concealed in the vehicle. Investigation into the source and destination of the drugs is ongoing.
In Kaduna State, police also arrested Yunana Iliya, also known as “Bado,” 34, recovering five AK-47 rifles and 150 rounds of live ammunition. The suspect reportedly confessed to involvement in arms dealing and kidnapping, with efforts underway to arrest other members of the syndicate.
CSP Hundeyin reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening intelligence gathering, deepening inter-agency collaboration and sustaining efforts to combat crime nationwide, assuring citizens that investigations into all the cases remain ongoing.
