The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended a dismissed immigration officer attempting to supply high-powered firearms to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forests.
The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was arrested following an intelligence-led operation that successfully intercepted the arms before they could reach criminal elements.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Mustafa Mohammed, revealed that the operation was a crucial breakthrough in preventing the spread of sophisticated weapons to terrorists and kidnappers in the region.
“Acting on intelligence, the command intercepted these guns from a dismissed immigration officer attempting to sell them to bandits terrorizing 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.
Among the recovered weapons was a Scorpion CZ EVO3, a state-of-the-art automatic firearm equipped with an inbuilt silencer. Mohammed described it as a “highly sophisticated weapon” capable of single, automatic, and burst fire, with a magazine capacity of 20 to 30 rounds. Additionally, the police recovered 52 rounds of ammunition, preventing what could have been a significant security threat.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, highlighted the broader impact of intensified police operations in the territory. Between January 1 and February 28, 2025, the command arrested 300 suspects and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and illicit substances.
“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. These decisive actions, driven by intelligence and executed with tactical precision, have led to the arrest of 300 suspects,” Disu stated.
The arrests included 59 armed robbers, 10 kidnappers and informants, 16 cultists, and seven neutralized kidnappers. Targeted raids were conducted in criminal hideouts across areas such as Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo, and Maitama.
Disu emphasized that abandoned buildings frequently used as hideouts for criminals are now under continuous surveillance, as the command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of FCT residents.
