Police Bust Arms, Drug Supply Networks Linked to Bandits
Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested several suspects allegedly involved in the supply of arms and illicit drugs to bandits operating in different parts of the country.
The arrests were disclosed on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal supply chains sustaining banditry and violent crimes.
According to Hundeyin, two suspected arms suppliers—John Magah, 45, and Ishaya Stephen, 43—were arrested during an ongoing investigation. He said Magah was identified as a local gun fabricator who facilitated the production and sale of arms and ammunition to bandits.
Recovered from the suspects were one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, one pump-action gun and four live cartridges. Investigations further revealed that the suspects supplied weapons to bandits and to one Daudume Bayina, who has also been arrested by the IRT.
“Both suspects have been in the business of selling arms for over five years and operate within Adamawa State and along the Cameroonian border,” Hundeyin said, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
In a separate operation, the police arrested a suspected illicit drug supplier, Ifeanyi Egbeke, 40, on November 2, 2025, in Kaduna State. Hundeyin said the suspect was intercepted at about 4:00 pm in a joint operation with the Department of State Services (DSS), acting on credible intelligence.
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Items recovered from Egbeke included 39 rolls and four packets of tramadol, 326 bottles of codeine, 52 rolls and eight sachets of BP injection syrups, 38 rolls and four sachets of Hypnos tablets, as well as one roll of Indian hemp. Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly supplied drugs to bandits operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.
The police also announced the arrest of an alleged gunrunner, Salisu Mohammed, popularly known as Mande Dawa, in Birnin Tasaba village, Zumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Recovered from him were one AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 32 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, concealed in a 50kg bag of millet. The suspect reportedly confessed to delivering weapons to bandits along the Obajana axis of Kogi State.
In another operation, a suspect identified as Uchenna Ikpe was arrested while driving a trailer from Lagos to Abuja. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 24 bags of Indian hemp concealed inside. The suspect allegedly confessed that he was to deliver the drugs to Abuja for a fee of N150,000.
Similarly, operatives arrested Yunana Iliya, also known as Bado, 34, in Kaduna State over alleged involvement in arms dealing and kidnapping. Five AK-47 rifles and 150 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him. He reportedly admitted to supplying arms to bandits and participating in the kidnapping of four children.
Hundeyin said investigations were ongoing in all the cases, while efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest other suspects linked to the criminal networks.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to dismantling arms and drug trafficking rings and denying criminal groups the logistics required to carry out violent activities across the country.
By PRNigeria
