By Damilare Adeleye
Niger State Police Command operatives have foiled a gunrunning operation in Minna, seizing a vehicle and recovering 15 pump-action rifles from suspected arms dealers and smugglers.
It was gathered that the three occupants in the vehicle escaped during interrogation.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, made this known during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Dutsen-Kura Minna on Wednesday.
He said, “On 4/8/2024 at about 1900hrs based on intelligence received, a Police patrol team of Anti-Kidnapping Unit attached to SCID Minna, while on routine patrol along Maikunkele-Tegina road, Minna intercepted a Toyota Corolla vehicle, red in colour with Reg. No. DKA 877 HJ.”
Danmamman explained that police operatives intercepted a vehicle with three occupants on the Maikunkele-Tegina Road in Minna. However, during interrogation, the suspects managed to escape.”
The vehicle was intercepted with three occupants including the driver, and in the course of interrogation, surprisingly on the guise to ease themselves, the occupants took to their heels and upon the search of the vehicle, fifteen (15) automatic pump action rifles were found with thirty (30) cartridges concealed in a sack in the vehicle.
“However, a concerted effort is ongoing through the investigative process to track the owner of the said vehicle and arrest the fleeing culprits towards unravelling the source and purpose of the pump action rifles, and prosecution.“The case is under investigation in SCID Minna,” he added.
