The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has intercepted a dismissed immigration officer who was allegedly attempting to sell sophisticated firearms to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forest.
The dismissed officer, whose name was not disclosed, was intercepted and arrested following an intelligence-led operation by the police.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Mustafa Mohammed, said the operation prevented the arms from reaching criminal elements whom he said could have made them deadly.
He said, “Acting on intelligence, the command intercepted these guns from a dismissed immigration officer attempting to sell them to bandits terrorising the Abuja-Kaduna forest. The intelligence was received in time, and the arms were intercepted while he was trying to make the delivery,” Mohammed stated.
Mohammed said among the recovered weapons was a Scorpion CZ EVO3, an advanced, fully automatic firearm with an inbuilt silencer.
“This is the latest model, the 2022 version of the Scorpion series.
It can be used in single, automatic, or burst mode. It is a highly sophisticated weapon, and its magazine can hold between 20 and 30 rounds, depending on the configuration. We also recovered 52 rounds of ammunition which could have posed a severe threat had they fallen into the hands of criminals.“
Speaking earlier, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, said 300 suspects were arrested between January and February 28, 2025.
He said, “In its sustained effort to rid the Federal Capital Territory of crime and criminal elements, the FCT Police Command has intensified its operations, carrying out a series of high-impact raids from January 1 to February 28, 2025. These decisive actions, driven by intelligence and executed with tactical precision, have led to the arrest of 300 suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and illicit substances. The total number of armed robbers arrested: 59. The total number of kidnappers and informants arrested: 10. The total number of armed robbers neutralised: nine.
The total number of kidnappers neutralised: seven. The total number of cultists arrested: 16.”
He also said targeted raid and clearance operations were conducted in identified criminal hideouts.
Disu said, “Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the safety of residents, the command deployed specialised tactical teams to raid identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the FCT. These operations covered high-risk areas, including Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo, and Maitama.
“Additionally, abandoned buildings across the city, frequently used as hideouts and bases for planning illicit activities, have been identified and will be subject to continuous monitoring and raids.”
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