By Chinenye Festus:-
The Coordinator of defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said they have arrested three citizens of the Republic of Niger.
Enenche disclosed this while speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Friday. The suspects are members of a notorious arms smuggling syndicate and they were arrested in Sabon Birnin Local government area of Sokoto state.
“Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity deployed at Forward Operating Base Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on the 15th of August after an undercover operation successfully smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate who specialise in massive arms supply to bandits in the northwest from across the international borders.
“The three suspects, all Nigeriens were intercepted at Dantudu in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State with six AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition concealed in various parts of their vehicles,” he said.
Speaking further, the defence spokesman said some of the nation’s “security challenges have an external influence.”
The military authorities said preliminary investigation revealed that the dangerous consignment was meant for some bandits in Isah Local Government Area of the state and that the foreigners smuggled the special ammunition into the country by concealing them in their vehicle.