NDLEA Arrests 3 Suspected Bandits, G3 Rifle Manufacturer
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three suspected armed bandits who were alleged to be on an attack mission in Katsina State.
This was as three AK 47 rifles and other dangerous items were recovered from the three suspects, whose names were given as Adamu Shehu, Tukur Mohammed and Ibrahim Suleiman.
In a related development, a suspected heavy weapon manufacturer, Celestine Chidiebere Christian, was arrested in Benue State with a high-calibre G3 rifle along with 78 rounds of life ammunition (RLA) of 7.62mm calibre and five empty shells while trying to move the heavy weapon and ammunition to Jos, Plateau State.
According to a release by NDLEA (Media and Advocacy), Femi Babafemi, the two arrests and seizures were made at the agency’s checkpoints in the two states where narcotic officers stop and search vehicles for illicit drugs.
Speaking when the Benue State Command was handing over the high calibre G3 rifle and the suspect to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, NDLEA chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), said the NDLEA will continue to support efforts by other security agencies, especially the armed forces, to restore law and order across the country.
“For us at NDLEA, we will continue to do our best with our highly dedicated officers and men to cut off accessibility to illicit drugs by criminal gangs by blocking the trafficking of these psychoactive and psychotropic substances.
“In doing this, we will not shy away from complementing the efforts of other security agencies, especially our armed forces, in our collective bid to restore security and maintain law and order in all parts of the country,” Marwa said.
He added: “The three armed bandits were arrested by our officers on patrol in Malumfashi Local Goverment Area of Katsina on Thursday, 5 August, on their way from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State to Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State, for another devilish mission.
“A Toyota Corolla car with registration number Kaduna TRK 149 AE, three AK 47 rifles with magazines and ammunition, different types of charms, rings, cash and other items were recovered from them. I have since directed they be handed over to the Army Brigade in Katsina for further investigation.”
The NDLEA chairman said the suspected high-calibre weapon manufacturer has been transferred to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
Marwa said: “From the briefs given by the Benue State command, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 4 August, 2021 at exactly 6:30am, in a bus belonging to CHI-Boy Transport Company, enroute Onitsha to Jos when the vehicle was flagged down at Aliade check-point for search.
“In the process, an iron box completely welded end to end was found in the vehicle, and when the passengers were questioned to know the owner, the suspect, accepted ownership.
“When the steel box was taken to the State Command headquarters along with the suspect, an electric filing machine was used to cut it open and fabricated high calibre G3 rifle along, with 78 rounds of life ammunition (RLA) of 7.62mm calibre and five empty shells of same were discovered inside.
“However, I asked that Celestine Chidiebere Christian be transferred to Abuja because of the calibre of weapon found with him, which he claims he manufactures.”
The NDLEA chairman commended officers of the Katsina and Benue commands for their vigilance and unrelenting commitment to the mandate given the agency by President Muhammadu Buhari to rid the country of illicit substances and ultimately secure it from the activities of criminal gangs.
