The Nigerian Police said it smashed two gun running and arms dealing ring and a gang of robbers and kidnappers in the Benue-Taraba axis, making 11 arrests.
Among the suspects arrested was one Miracle Emmanuel, a 27-year-old gun dealer from Anambra State based in Takum, Taraba State.
With his three-man gang, the police found five Ak-47 rifles, along with other ammunitions.
Police said they recovered in total 10 AK 47 rifles and two Beretta pistols from the 11 suspects paraded on Tuesday at the Benue State Police Command headquarters in Makurdi.
It claimed the arrests were a major breakthrough in stopping the incessant killing of innocent people in the Middle Belt states of Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa.
In Benue State, Morris Ashwe, 36, from Mbajima Village Katsina Ala LGA, was the sole armourer arrested.
He was accused of supplying arms to the wanted criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, aka Ghana.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, Ashwe was found in possession of five AK 47 rifles, 238 AK47 bullets, 40 Smoke Grenade Canisters and 79 LAR Rifle bullets.
The busted gun dealing gang in Taraba State comprised Takum-based Kabiru Idris, 43, Miracle Emmanuel from Anambra State, said to be a principal suspect and gang leader and Husseini Safiyanu from Taraba State.
Police said they found five AK47 Rifles with the Taraba State gang, along with 13 AK 47 magazines and 83 bullets.
The Police spokesman also said a seven-man robbery and kidnapping gang was arrested in Benue State, along with two Beretta pistols.
The gang was on its way to kidnap a prominent person in Makurdi, the state capital.
Members of the gang were identified as Emmanuel Ushehemba Kwembe, 28; Achir Gabriel, 30, both from Ushongo LGA; Sekad Uver, 28, from Koshisha LGA of Benue State; and Ordure Fada, 22, from Kwande LGA.
Others arrested were Stephen Jirgba 18, from Vande kya LGA; Peter Lorham, 24, from Kinshisha LGA; and Lorhemen Akwambe 35, who hails from Guma LGA.
Moshood said: “The renewed strategies adopted by the Nigeria Police Force to stop the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians and curtail the proliferation of firearms across the country, most especially in the North-Central States have been yielding positive results.
“The IGP Intelligence Response Team and the Police Special Forces mandated by the IGP to work with Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State Commands, in the last two weeks arrested the 11 suspects mentioned above within Benue and Taraba States and recovered from them were Ten (10) AK47 Rifles and other assorted firearms and ammunition.
“In the first two cases, the suspects confessed to have been responsible for supply of AK47 rifles and other firearms and ammunition to armed bandits, militias, and criminal herdsmen/farmers in Benue and Taraba States.
“The first suspect, Morris Ashwe confessed and admitted to have been supplying firearms and ammunition to the notorious and most wanted vicious and notorious gang leader of militia, murderers and kidnappers Terwase Akwaza aka Ghana.
“Akwaza was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force last year March over the killings of many innocent persons at Zaki Biam and the wanton destruction of properties worth Millions of Naira.
“He is also wanted for other violent crimes such as the killing of Mr. Deneen Igbana, the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor of Benue State.”
The police said the Kabiru Idris gang confessed to have been supplying AK47 rifles and other firearms and ammunition to militia groups, armed bandits and other criminals in Taraba and Benue States, who they admitted have been attacking and killing innocent people in villages in both States.
As for the kidnappers, whose mission was aborted, the police said their arrest was made possible from intelligence gathered by the IGP Intelligence Response Team.
The police said the gangsters have admitted to have been responsible for several kidnappings in Benue and Taraba States and some parts of Nasarawa State in the recent past.
Moshood said: “Investigation is being strengthened to arrest other suspects at large. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
“The deployment of additional 15 Police mobile Force units to augment the strength of the Benue State Police Command has beefed-up security in the State and help in sustaining the peace that have been restored to the state.” New Rangers
