By Jane Okafor, Abuja
ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory Police Command says it has intercepted a former immigration officer who was attempting to pass sophisticated firearms to bandits through arms sale deals.
The suspect’s target market comprise bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forests.
The identity of the dismissed officer was not disclosed but was nabbed following an intelligence-driven operation by the police.
The Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Mustafa Mohammed, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the interception prevented the arms from falling into the hands of criminal elements who he said could have used them against members of the public.
Mohammed said, “Acting on intelligence, the command intercepted these guns from a dismissed immigration officer attempting to sell them to bandits terrorising the Abuja-Kaduna forest. The intelligence was received in time, and the arms were intercepted while he was trying to make the delivery.”
Mohammed cited one of the recovered weapons as a Scorpion CZ EVO3, an advanced, fully automatic firearm with an inbuilt silencer.
“This is the latest model, the 2022 version of the Scorpion series. It can be used in single, automatic, or burst mode. It is a highly sophisticated weapon, and its magazine can hold between 20 to 30 rounds, depending on the configuration. We also recovered 52 rounds of ammunition which could have posed a severe threat had they fallen into the hands of criminals.”
Meanwhile,the FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, disclosed that a total of 300 suspects were arrested between January and February 28, 2025.
He noted that the targeted raid and clearance operations were conducted in identified criminal hideouts, leading to large haul in arms recovery.
Disu said, “In its sustained effort to rid the Federal Capital Territory of crime and criminal elements, the FCT Police Command has intensified its operations, carrying out a series of high-impact raids from January 1st to February 28th, 2025.
“These decisive actions, driven by intelligence and executed with tactical precision, have led to the arrest of 300 suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and illicit substances. Total number of armed robbers arrested: 59.
“Total number of kidnappers and informants arrested: 10. Total number of armed robbers neutralized: nine. Total number of kidnappers neutralized: seven. Total number of cultists arrested: 16.
“Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the safety of residents, the Command deployed specialized tactical teams to raid identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the FCT. These operations covered high-risk areas, including Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo and Maitama.
“Additionally, abandoned buildings across the city, frequently used as hideouts and bases for planning illicit activities, have been identified and will be subject to continuous monitoring and raids.”
