Police Arrest Arms, Drug Suppliers Linked to Bandits Across Nigeria

Police Arrest Arms, Drug Suppliers Linked to Bandits Across Nigeria
Investigations revealed that Egbeke allegedly supplied illicit drugs to bandits operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states
39 rolls and four packets of tramadol, 326 bottles of codeine, 52 rolls and eight sachets of BP injection syrups, 38 rolls and four sachets of Hypnos tablets, and one roll of Indian hemp recovered

Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested several suspects allegedly involved in supplying arms and illicit drugs to bandits operating in different parts of the country.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the arrests were disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja during a press briefing by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin.

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Hundeyin said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team arrested two suspected arms suppliers, John Magah, aged 45, and Ishaya Stephen, aged 43, during an ongoing investigation.

According to him, Magah was identified as a local gun fabricator who facilitates the sale of arms and ammunition to bandits.

“Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, in an ongoing investigation, arrested John Magah, aged 45, and Ishaya Stephen, aged 43, and recovered from them one AK47 rifle, one magazine, one pump action gun and four live cartridges,” Hundeyin said.

He added that investigations revealed the suspects supplied arms to bandits and to one Daudume Bayina, who has also been arrested by the police.

Hundeyin said both suspects had been involved in arms trafficking for over five years, operating within Adamawa State and along the Cameroonian border, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate.

In a separate operation, the police arrested a suspected illicit drug supplier, Ifeanyi Egbeke, aged 40, on November 2, 2025, in Kaduna State.

Hundeyin said the suspect was intercepted by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team in collaboration with the Department of State Services.

Recovered from him were 39 rolls and four packets of tramadol, 326 bottles of codeine, 52 rolls and eight sachets of BP injection syrups, 38 rolls and four sachets of Hypnos tablets, and one roll of Indian hemp.

According to the police, investigations revealed that Egbeke allegedly supplied illicit drugs to bandits operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.

The police also announced the arrest of a suspected gunrunner, Salisu Mohammed, also known as Mande Dawa, in Birnin Tasaba village, Zumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Recovered from him were one AK47 rifle, two magazines and 32 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed in a 50kg bag of millet. He reportedly confessed to delivering weapons to bandits along the Obajana axis of Kogi State.

Police Arrest Arms, Drug Suppliers Linked to Bandits Across Nigeria

Another suspect, Uchenna Ikpe, was arrested while driving a trailer from Lagos to Abuja, in which 24 bags of Indian hemp were concealed. The suspect reportedly said he was to deliver the drugs to Abuja for a fee of ₦150,000.

The police further disclosed the arrest of Yunana Iliya, also known as Bado, aged 34, in Kaduna State over alleged arms dealing and kidnapping.

Five AK47 rifles and 150 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect, who reportedly confessed to supplying arms to bandits and participating in the kidnapping of four children.

Hundeyin said investigations were ongoing in all the cases, adding that efforts had been intensified to arrest other suspects linked to the crimes.