Man ‘transporting firearms’ to Benue arrested in Jigawa

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reportedly intercepted a man transporting firearms to Benue state.

Oko Micheal, deputy commander of Jigawa state NDLEA, confirmed that the suspect was arrested in the state on February 4, while the operatives were on normal operation around Jahun – Gujungu road.

According to Micheal, the suspect, identified as Salisu Mahmuda, was in possession of three locally fabricated firearms.

“The suspect, identified as Salisu Mahmuda was arrested on Sunday, February 4, 2018, with some three locally fabricated firearms (2 locally made revolver pistol, one cut to size revolver rifle) with five-rounds of live ammunition,” Micheal said.

The suspect, believed to be an indigene of Kaduna state, said he attended a school in Nasarawa where he later engaged in the collection of discarded metals between the state and Benue.

He alleged that a Tiv man and another Fulani man ordered the firearms.

He added that a schoolmate of his in Nasarawa linked him to a man in Labara village, Kano, who fabricated the arms for him.

“I am able to come down here through a friend of mine whom we schooled together in Nasarawa. He is the one that led me to the man that manufactured the firearms in Laraba village,” Mahmuda was quoted to have said.

The anti-drug agency said the suspect and recovered items would be transferred to the state police command for further investigation.

In January, a helicopter said to be loaded with arms and ammunition reportedly landed in a village in Taraba state.