Police intercepts 520 rounds of live ammunition in Niger

… Suspects flee
… Kidnap suspect arrested during visit to his victim house

The Niger state police command says it has intercepted 520 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition in Bida long Nku-Pategi road, bordering Niger state with Kwara state during stop and search operation.

The state police command in a statement in Minna by the public relation officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun on Friday said the police from Nku police station under Dokko Division in the state, in conjunction with the local vigilantes intercepted a motorcycle with two persons during routine patrol of the area at about 12; 30am and immediately the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and a sack, and fled into the bush.

This action of the suspects raised serious suspicion and in the process of sacking the content of the bag, the police discovered about 520 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition neatly packed in the bag.

The suspects, he disclosed were heading towards Kwara state when they were intercepted, stressing that the said exhibit is now under investigation and effort is being made to arrest the fleeing suspects.

In another development, a suspected kidnapper, Nasiru Isyaka of Sabon Gari Mangu in Kontagora local government area of state has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a kidnap incident that occurred in December 2024 in the village.

It was gathered that the suspect was among the kidnappers that invaded the village in December 29th during which one person was shot dead and two others abducted and taken into custody but were later rescued by the joint security taskforce in the area.

According to the police, the suspected was arrested when he visited the house of one of his victims in the village and was identified by the victim as one of the kidnappers who abducted him.

The police operatives from A Division in Kontagora immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect who later confessed to have taken part in the kidnap of his victim.

According to the police, one locally made short gun was recovered from him during interrogation and has been transferred to the Police headquarters, Minna for an in-depth investigation and prosecution while effort is said to be ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.