NSCDC nabs gun running, kidnapping suspects in Nasarawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested five individuals allegedly involved in illegal firearms possession, gun running, kidnapping, banditry, and job racketeering.

The spokesperson for NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

“The Squad arrested five suspects who were allegedly involved in illegal possession of firearm, gun running, kidnapping, banditry and Job racketeering,” the statement read.

Among the items recovered during the operation were two automatic rifles with three magazines, an AK-47 rifle with 15 live rounds of ammunition, an FN rifle with two live rounds, one live cartridge, and nine locally fabricated pistols.

Additionally, a bayonet and two pairs of uniforms from the Nigerian Forest Security Services were seized.

The statement added the suspects arrested were identified as Umar Ibrahim, 35, Nura Abubakar, 20, and Mohammed Sule, 20.

They were detained in Ukoso Komva Ward, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,

“They were apprehended on their way to deliver it to the buyer,” the statement added.

During questioning, the suspects claimed they had been deceived into participating in the illegal act by a man named Ali, who is currently on the run. The suspects stated that they were apprehended on their way to complete the sale of the weapons.

In their confessions, the suspects appealed to others to refrain from engaging in such criminal activities and pleaded for leniency.

The operation also led to the arrest of a volunteer with the Nigerian Forest Security Services in Bauchi State, Lar Changkur.

Changkur is suspected of being involved in gunrunning.

Additionally, a 62-year-old man, Felix Clerkson, was arrested in Nasarawa State for job racketeering.

“During preliminary Investigation, over 120 fake letters of appointment into the NSCDC were recovered.

“Felix, who was picked up at Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following a tip, admitted to having defrauded desperate and unsuspecting victims to the whopping sum of over 26 million naira.

“Our ongoing investigation, however, revealed that the suspect has swindled his victims to the tune of N55m, part of which he shared with his accomplices currently at large but are being trailed by our men,” the statement added.

All suspects will be charged in court following the completion of investigations, the statement concluded.