Police Arrest Two for Illegal Firearms in Plateau

Two suspects have been arrested in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State, for alleged illegal possession and sale of locally fabricated firearms.

The state command’s spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, said in a statement on Wednesday that the arrests followed intelligence-led operations by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in collaboration with officers from the Bukuru Division.

The suspects, Yakubu Pam, 40, of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, and Abdulsalam Hassan, 19, of Kadunu in Mangu Local Government Area, were arrested after credible intelligence was received linking them to illegal possession of firearms.

According to the police, operatives arrested Yakubu Pam on June 22 at Miyango-Gyel, behind Building Materials in Jos, after receiving information about his involvement in illegal firearms.

During interrogation, Mr Pam allegedly admitted possessing a locally fabricated firearm, claiming he bought it for self-protection against attacks. Police recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle from him.

The suspect reportedly identified the supplier as Abdulsalam Hassan, who allegedly acted as a middleman by obtaining firearms from unknown sources and selling them to buyers for financial gain.

Officers reportedly recovered a Type 06 rifle, two magazines, and 29 rounds of ammunition from him.

Mr Alabo said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation to trace the origin of the weapons and identify other suspects involved in the alleged arms trafficking network.

The Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, warned residents against the illegal possession, sale, and use of firearms, saying such activities posed a serious threat to public safety.

He reiterated the police’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protecting lives and property across the state.

The arrests come amid renewed efforts by security agencies to curb violence in Plateau.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently restructured the state’s security architecture, appointing new heads for Operation Rainbow and other security positions following persistent attacks in parts of the state.

The development follows the killing of three people at a mining site in Nyango, Gyel District of Jos South Local Government Area on June 30, an attack that renewed concerns over insecurity in Plateau.

Earlier, on June 26, troops of Operation Enduring Peace rescued eight kidnapped victims from Pandam Forest in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area after a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.

Security agencies say the latest arrests form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal networks fueling violence across the state.