Troops arrest ‘police sergeant with 370 rounds of ammunition’ in Plateau

Troops of the special task force, operation Safe Haven (OPSH), say a man identified as a police sergeant has been arrested with 370 rounds of ammunition in Plateau.

Ishaku Takwa, OPSH media officer, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to Takwa, the suspect was arrested on Thursday afternoon at a checkpoint in Werreng community of Barkin Ladi LGA of the state.

The police sergeant was said to be driving a vehicle, which had a 60-year-old passenger, when they crashed into a military barricade.

“Our troops, this afternoon, intercepted a police sergeant and one other suspect with 370 rounds of ammunition,” the statement reads..

“The ammunition was concealed in a Toyota Pathfinder jeep with registration number LGT 772 JN.

“Luck ran out of the suspects when the driver attempted to maneuvre the military checkpoint located at Werreng along Barkin Ladi-Jos road. Unfortunately, their car hit the barricade at the checkpoint, which resulted in the death of one of them.”

Takwa said investigation revealed that the driver “is serving with the Police Traffic Department”, adding that “the body of the deceased had been handed over to the Police, while the other suspect is currently undergoing interrogation”.

Other items said to have been recovered included a Toyota Pathfinder vehicle, N205,000, an empty case of ammunition, one dagger, a torchlight and three mobile phones.

A national identity card, three wraps of substance suspected to be cannabis, and a bag containing clothing materials were also said to have been recovered from the suspects.

The OPSH spokesperson added that the suspect would be handed over to the police for prosecution, after investigation.