A gun-running syndicate supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups in the North-West has been successfully dismantled by the Nigerian Army, as announced on Thursday.
Additionally, the troops also captured a notorious kidnapping syndicate and seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.
In a separate operation, a member of a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, was apprehended by the army.
During a coordinated effort with other security agencies, the army successfully arrested a notorious gunrunner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim, in Babinga Kudaru village of Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The suspect was captured following the earlier arrest of another syndicate member in Jos, Plateau State, on July 31 by the troops of Operation Safe Haven.
Recovered items include one AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.
In Katsina State, an ambush by Nigerian army troops led to the neutralization of a terrorist in Anguwa Boka, Faskari Local Government Area, with the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and three rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, among other items.
Furthermore, in a separate operation, a member of a kidnap syndicate named Abubakar Shehu (25) was tracked and apprehended in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
Shehu is linked to the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, and upon investigation, led the troops to recover weapons from Okoka forest in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, including four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, magazines, cartridges, and ammunition.
The army is intensifying efforts to pursue other members of the kidnap syndicate.