Police Intercept Arms-Laden Bus From Benue To Kwara

The Nasarawa State Police Command has intercepted a bus loaded with sophisticated firearms and ammunition allegedly being transported from Benue to Kwara State, in a major breakthrough against arms trafficking.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the interception took place in the early hours of June 4 following credible intelligence received by the command.

“On June 4, 2025, at about 3:09 a.m., two suspected gunrunners were apprehended in Lafia with a significant cache of high-grade weapons en route to Ilorin, Kwara State,” Nansel stated.

According to the statement, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out a swift and well-coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Lawal Sani, 40, a commercial bus driver from Makwalla, Funtua LGA, Katsina State Dahiru Abdullahi, 75, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa, Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, who operates within Keffi Cattle Market

Items recovered from the suspects include: 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, 4 empty magazines,1 Toyota Hiace bus (grey, registration number AAA 926 XL)

The suspects confessed they were paid ₦500,000 to deliver the arms from Benue to Kwara, a delivery that police say could have supplied multiple criminal networks.

They are currently in custody while a full-scale investigation has been launched to uncover the wider arms trafficking syndicate behind the operation.