Police intercept 2 vehicles with arms in Zamfara

Police in Zamfara yesterday intercepted two vehicles carrying arms in diff erent parts of the state.

Spokesman of the command, Muhammad Shehu, confi rmed the development in Gusau.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria that items recovered from the vehicles were three AK47 riffl es, an automatic pistol, locally-made pistol, magazines and live ammunitions.

According to him, other items recovered include N103, 435 cash, ATM card, three voters’ cards, military camoufl age and a stamp of the Cattle Traders Association of Nigeria in the Bukuru Local Government Area of Plateau.

Shehu said drivers of the two cars, a Honda Civic marked Sokoto State BDN358AA and another marked Kano State KMC 321AA, were arrested and now assisting the police in investigations.

Th e police image maker further explained that a police patrol team arrested one of the suspects, a native of Birnin-Yero village in the Shinkafi Local Government Council of Sokoto State on September 25 on the GusauSokoto highway He named items recovered from the vehicle as two AK 47 Riffl es with number 3745485 and 1977CK22457 respectively and fi ve magazines with 165 rounds of live ammunition, “Others items recovered are N68,750 cash, ATM card and three 3 voters’ cards, military camoufl age and several mobile phones.

’’ He said also the police similarly, caught another suspect, a native of Bassa Local Government Council in Plateau on the Kauran-Namoda-Jibiya road.

Shehu said exhibits recovered in the man’s vehicle were one AK 47 riffl e with number 804151, two magazines with 20 rounds of live ammunition and one pistol with four bullets.

“Other items recovered are a locally-made pistol, eight mobile phones, cash of N34, 685, two pairs of military camoufl age and a stamp of the Cattle Traders Association of Nigeria, Bukuru Local Government Area of Plateau State.

” Th e police image maker said investigation into the matter was going on at the command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

He said the successes recorded showed the level of commitment of the command led by the Commissioner of Police, Shaba Alkali.

Shehu assured residents of the state of adequate security coverage and the determination of the command to reduce crime in the state.

He appealed to members of the public to always cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the state.

“Th erefore, we should support the police with useful information on security from our respective areas.

” Meanwhile, Governor Abdul’aziz Yari has chided security agencies in the state for their poor performances in tackling security challenges in the state.

Yari, who voiced his displeasure over the poor security at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, described the security situation as worrisome.

CG Customs, DSS boss summoned In a related development, the House of Representatives has summoned the Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali and the Director-General, State Security Services, Lawal Daura to brief the House on the comprehensive plan to rid Nigeria of the menace of small arms and light weapons.

Th e House also urged the Customs, the DSS and the Offi ce of the Attorney-General of the Federation to speed up investigations on the fi rearms seizures and commence prosecution of culprits.

It similarly called on the NCS and other regulatory agencies to intensify ports checks to control the infl ux of small arms and light weapons into the country.

Th e resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Obinna Chidoka entitled, “Frightening Infl ux of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

” “Th e House is concerned Customs Service had on four diff erent occasions, this year, intercepted fi rearms smuggled into the country, totalling 2,671 pieces, with the fi rst fi rearms seizure in January, the second in May and the third and fourth in September 2017.

“Gravely concerned that the January 2017 fi rearm shipment was intercepted by the Nigerian Customs after it was purportedly checked and certifi ed free to go with its deadly cargo and had indeed left the premises of the Port when it was tracked down after a tip-off .

“Worried that the recent fi rm arms seizure, which is the second in the month of September and fourth in 2017, would appear to suggest that the syndicate behind the infl ux of fi rearms into the country had stepped up their nefarious trade, with far-reaching consequences for the country, as fi rearms and light weapons are the lifeblood of organised crime and criminality.

“Worried that the Customs Service might not be adequately equipped and motivated to handle the infl ux of small arms and light weapons into the country, due to the absence of functional scanners at the port to enable the agency to eff ectively scrutinise containers in line with global best practices.

“Th e recent infl ux of fi rearms into the country has confi rmed the recent report of the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, which identifi ed Nigeria as a destination of choice for smugglers of small arms and light weapons”, the lawmaker stated.

When Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who presided at yesterday’s session put it to vote, the motion had overwhelming support of the lawmakers.

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