By The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects linked to illegal arms and ammunition trafficking and recovered 2,625 cartridges in what it described as an intelligence-led operation.
The Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, said operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, Saki Operation Base, acted on credible intelligence that led to the arrest of Isiaka Dare, 35, and Taiwo Ayodabo, 33, both of Tede, at Budo Mosalasi in Saki, describing them as “suspected international gun runners.”
According to the statement, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects operate across borders and are involved in the importation and distribution of prohibited ammunition to unauthorised individuals within the country.
“Investigation so far reveals that the suspects operate across international terrain, trafficking ammunition illegally from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria through unauthorized border routes. Their criminal enterprise involves the clandestine importation and distribution of prohibited ammunition to unauthorized individuals within the country—arms and ammunition which may ultimately be deployed in the commission of armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes,” the statement read in part.
The operation led to the recovery of “one hundred and five (105) packets of pump-action cartridges concealed in four (4) jerry cans/kegs, with each packet containing twenty-five (25) cartridges, amounting to a total of two thousand six hundred and twenty-five (2,625) cartridges. Two unregistered motorcycles believed to have been used for the illegal transportation and distribution of the ammunition were equally recovered.”
The Command added that the suspects have confessed to the crime and are assisting investigators in unravelling the wider transnational network and identifying other accomplices involved in the illicit trade.
“Consequent upon this development, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna psc (+), has directed that the suspects be charged to court upon the conclusion of a thorough and comprehensive investigation.”
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for the intelligence-driven operation and appreciated members of the public for their timely support, stressing that proactive policing and community partnership remain critical in tackling organised crime. He assured residents that Oyo State would not be a safe haven for criminals and urged continued vigilance and information sharing to curb illegal arms proliferation.
