Police Arrest Two Over Illegal Firearms, Recover Rifles, Ammunition in Plateau

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested two suspects over the alleged illegal possession and sale of locally fabricated firearms, recovering two rifles, magazines and ammunition during separate intelligence-led operations in Jos and Mangu Local Government Areas.

Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the operations were carried out by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in collaboration with officers from the Bukuru Division.

According to him, both suspects allegedly confessed to possessing and supplying the recovered firearms, while investigations have been expanded to identify the source of the weapons and other members of the suspected arms trafficking network.

"The suspects confessed to possessing and supplying the recovered firearms," Alabo said.

The first suspect, 40-year-old Yakubu Pam of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, was arrested on June 22 at Miyango-Gyel, behind Building Materials in Jos, following intelligence linking him to the illegal possession of firearms.

Police said Pam allegedly admitted owning a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, claiming he purchased the weapon for self-protection against attacks.

During interrogation, he reportedly identified the supplier as 19-year-old Abdulsalam Hassan of Kadunu in Mangu Local Government Area.

Acting on the information, detectives arrested Hassan, who allegedly confessed to serving as a middleman by sourcing firearms from unidentified suppliers and selling them to buyers for financial gain.

The police said officers recovered a Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 29 rounds of ammunition from Hassan.

Alabo said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where detectives are working to trace the origin of the weapons and uncover other individuals connected to the alleged gun-running network.

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, warned residents against the illegal possession, sale and use of firearms, describing the activities as a major threat to public safety.

He reiterated the command's commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protecting lives and property across the state.

The arrests come amid intensified security operations in Plateau following a series of violent attacks.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently restructured the state's security architecture, appointing new heads for Operation Rainbow and other security agencies as part of efforts to tackle persistent insecurity.

The latest operation also follows the killing of three people at a mining site in Nyango, Gyel District of Jos South Local Government Area on June 30, as well as the rescue of eight kidnapped victims from Pandam Forest in Qua'an Pan Local Government Area by troops of Operation Enduring Peace on June 26 after a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.

Security agencies say the latest arrests form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal networks fueling violence and illegal arms proliferation across Plateau State.