The Nigeria Police Force has intensified crackdown on criminal networks, arrested suspected gunrunners and drug suppliers linked to banditry across the country.
Through intelligence-driven operations by the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), police recovered assault rifles, other prohibited firearms, ammunition, and substantial quantities of illicit drugs.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed that the operations, carried out between September and November 2025, led to the arrest of nine suspects and the recovery of a large cache of prohibited firearms, ammunition and hard drugs.
Hundeyin said the arrests were part of the Force’s sustained efforts to dismantle criminal networks fueling insecurity across the country, particularly banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes.
According to him, the cases under review involved gunrunning syndicates, arms suppliers to bandits, and drug traffickers whose activities cut across Plateau, Adamawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kogi and other states.
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He stated that, in total, the operations led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action rifles, two single-barrel guns, two Beretta pistols, four locally fabricated revolver rifles, six live cartridges, four magazines, 35 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres and 24 bags of Indian hemp, alongside other illicit substances.
In one of the cases highlighted, Hundeyin said operatives arrested Adamu Zaki Babangida, a notorious gunrunner, in Plateau State on September 9, 2025, following credible intelligence.
He said Babangida was apprehended at about 9:30am, during which a Remington model pump-action rifle was recovered from him.
Further investigation, he added, led to the recovery of four locally fabricated revolver rifles on October 23, 2025, from another location within the state.
Efforts, he said, are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the gunrunning syndicate.
The police spokesperson also disclosed the arrest of two suspects, Chibuke Nnaji and Joshua Izang, also known as “Buffalo,” over unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and the use of a fake gun permit.
According to him, Nnaji was first arrested in Plateau State on October 23, 2025, with a fake gun permit in his possession. Investigations later revealed that Izang was the mastermind behind the forged permit.
“The arrest of Izang led to the recovery of one pump-action rifle, two single-barrel guns and two live cartridges. Hundeyin said further efforts are underway to apprehend other collaborators.
“On October 26, 2025, operatives of the IRT arrested Daudume Bayina in Adamawa State after weeks of intelligence gathering”, he added.
Hundeyin said Bayina was arrested at about 8:30pm and found in possession of two Beretta pistols, one live round of ammunition and two magazines.
Investigations revealed that the suspect was en route to supply the firearms to another individual in a border town between Adamawa State and Cameroon, and that he had been involved in arms supply for over a year.
In a related development, operatives arrested two notorious arms suppliers, John Magah, 45, and Ishaya Stephen, 43, during an ongoing investigation.
Recovered from the suspects were one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, one magazine and four live cartridges.
According to Hundeyin, investigations showed that the duo supplied arms to bandits and to Daudume Bayina, who had earlier been arrested.
He added that Magah is a gun fabricator who facilitates the production and sale of firearms, while both suspects have allegedly been in the arms trade for over five years, operating around Adamawa State and the Cameroon border.
He noted that the IRT, working in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), also arrested a suspected illicit drug supplier, Ifeanyi Egbeke, 40, in Kaduna State on November 2, 2025.
Hundeyin said the suspect was intercepted at about 4:00pm, with large quantities of controlled substances, including Tramadol, Codeine syrup, BP injection syrups, Hypnos tablets and Indian hemp.
“Investigations revealed that Egbeke allegedly supplied the drugs to bandits operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states, and that he was paid for each successful delivery.
“In another operation, the police arrested Salisu Mohammed, also known as “Mande Dawa,” in Birnin Tsaba village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“Recovered from him were one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines and 32 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, concealed in a 50kg bag of millet”, he disclosed.
Hundeyin said the suspect confessed that the weapons were given to him by one Naduka, who is currently at large, for delivery to bandits along the Obajana axis of Kogi State, adding that Mohammed admitted to being involved in gunrunning for over a decade.
The police also arrested Uchenna Ikpe, a trailer driver conveying 24 bags of Indian hemp from Lagos to Abuja.
The suspect claimed he picked up the drugs from an unknown individual along Akure road and was to be paid N150,000 for delivering them to Abuja. Investigations, Hundeyin said, are ongoing.
In a separate case, operatives arrested Yunana Iliya, also known as “Bado,” 34, a resident of Kanrafi village in Kaduna State, following intelligence from the Tactical Intelligence Unit.
His arrest on September 27, 2025, led to the recovery of five AK-47 rifles and 150 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to arms dealing and kidnapping, admitting that he conspired with three others to kidnap four children and supply weapons to bandits.
Hundeyin assured Nigerians that the Force would continue to strengthen its intelligence and investigative capabilities while deepening collaboration with other security agencies.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the rule of law and protect the lives and property of every citizen,” he said, adding that suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He expressed confidence that sustained pressure on criminal networks would significantly improve security nationwide.
