Police authorities in Sokoto State have apprehended five Boko Haram arms suppliers notorious for distributing and delivering weapons to terrorists within the state.
The arrests, made as part of intensified efforts led by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, mark a significant stride in combating insecurity and enhancing public safety across the state.
In a press release issued on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, disclosed that operatives from the State Intelligence Department arrested a man identified as Bello Ibrahim, popularly called “Bello Currency,” alongside four other suspects.
The others include “Muhammad Danlato, Abun Buhari, Faruku Alhaji, and Abubakar Furniture; all five individuals were apprehended for possessing illegal firearms and engaging in the distribution of weapons to Boko Haram insurgents, an act they confessed to”, the press release noted.
“Investigations revealed that Bello Ibrahim allegedly distributed homemade revolvers to the co-accused under the guise of providing them with means for self-protection, meanwhile, none of the firearms were registered, and the suspects reportedly failed to obtain the necessary licenses as required under Nigeria’s Firearms Act”, part of the press release also read.
The arrests took place during a planned operation in Tambuwal Local Government Area, of the state where the police also recovered multiple unlicensed weapons, four rounds of LAR ammunition, and a single AK-47 round.
The press release noted that all suspects are currently in custody while cooperating with interrogation and are expected to face prosecution immediately investigation is completed.
The police command also revealed that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspects are part of a larger criminal or terrorist network across other Northern States.
The command reiterated its commitment to securing the lives and property of residents and encouraged the public to report suspicious behaviour to the authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.
