Police arrest suspect who ‘supplies arms’ to kidnappers, bandits in Abuja

The federal capital territory (FCT) police command says it has arrested an alleged informant to a kidnapping and banditry ring terrorising Abuja.

Josephine Adeh, state police spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Sunday.

Adeh said the suspect had been on the police wanted list and was arrested by the anti-kidnapping unit at Mongoro Forest.

She said the suspect was involved in the supply of firearms, ammunition, and other weapons to the terrorists.

The suspect used a motorcycle to supply food items and illicit drugs to the criminals in their various hideouts in the forests, Adeh added.

According to the spokesperson, items recovered from the suspect include one AK47 rifle, AK47 ammunition, one mobile phone, foodstuff, and an unregistered boxer motorcycle.

Adeh said an investigation into the case had been intensified to identify and cut off the criminal supply chain and arrest other members of the gang.

In a related development, the FCT police said 11 suspects were arrested over illegal possession, fabrication and production of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery, and other criminal offences.

The police spokesperson said they were intercepted in the Zuba area of the FCT by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

Items recovered from the suspects were four locally made firearms and one live cartridge.

Additionally, operatives from the Utako divisional police headquarters arrested eight suspects over armed robbery at Amala Garden in Utako following a tip-off.

Three firearms of different calibres, knives and hard drugs were recovered from the suspects, the police spokesperson added.