Large cache of arms intercepted in Abuja

Vanguard

18 September 2011

Large cache of arms intercepted in Abuja

*Baron, robbery suspects arrested

What could have been a  reign of terror on residents of Abuja by a gang of dare-devil armed robbers brandishing four AK 47 military assault rifles, one SMG rifle, and several bundles of poisonous bows and arrows, was, at the weekend, averted when soldiers attached to the 177 Guards Battalion of the Guards Brigade intercepted a Volkswagen Golf  salon car carrying the weapons to the FCT from Nasarawa State.

Addressing newsmen on the arrests, Public Relations Officer of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Njideka Agwu, said: “At about 21:30 hours (9.30pm), on Thursday, troops from the 177 Battalion, Keffi, deployed to Gitata in Nasarawa  State, recovered arms and ammunition from the suspected armed robbers”.

It was learnt that the suspects, who had beaten several checkpoints along the way because they hid the weapons and ammunition inside the bonnet of the car, while security at the checkpoints were only interested in checking the booth, were stopped  at Gitata junction by soldiers who searched the occupants, and also searched the booth of the car.

However, when the robbers realized that some of the soldiers were not satisfied and were moving towards the front of the car to open the bonnet, they ran into the bush resulting in some of the soldiers running after them. The soldiers apprehended  the driver and two of the suspected robbers.

After a thorough search of the vehicle marked  BJ 574 NSR,  four  AK 47 rifles, one sub machine gun, five AK 47 magazines each capable of carrying 30 rounds of live ammunition, one SMG magazine, 280 rounds of 7. 62mm special and 27 rounds of SMG ammunition were recovered.

Also recovered were several mobile police and regular police uniforms, United Nations Blue Berets (caps), assorted  charms, GSM phones and a revolver. Some of the police uniforms recovered had such ranks as sergeants and corporals attached to them.

On interrogation by journalists, the suspects, who gave their names as Abdullahi Lawan, Abubakar Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed that they hired the guns and ammunition from an alleged kingpin (one Iliya) who was traced to Kano and arrested by the Guards Brigade operatives.