Three suspected armed bandits have been arrested by the Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, during an attack in Katsina State, with three AK 47 rifles and other dangerous items recovered from them.
The armed bandits are Adamu Shehu, Tukur Mohammed and one other.
A statement from the NDLEA from the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said a heavy weapon manufacturer, Celestine Chidiebere Christian, was also arrested with a high calibre G3 rifle along with seventy-eight (78) rounds of life ammunition (RLA) of 7.62mm calibre and five empty shells of same in Benue while trying to move the heavy weapon and ammunition to Jos, Plateau State.
According to a statement, the arrests and seizures were made at the NDLEA checkpoints in the two states where narcotic officers stop and search vehicles for illicit drugs.
Speaking when the Benue State command was handing over the high calibre G3 rifle and the suspect to the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) noted that the NDLEA would continue to support efforts by other security agencies, especially the armed forces to restore law and order across the country.
He explained that for them at the NDLEA, they would continue to do their best with their highly dedicated officers and men to cut off accessibility to illicit drugs by criminal gangs, by blocking the trafficking of the psychoactive and psychotropic substances.
He added, “In doing this, we’ll not shy away from complementing the efforts of other security agencies especially our armed forces in our collective bid to restore security and maintain law and order in all parts of the country.”
According to the statement, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) stated that the three armed bandits were arrested by their officers on patrol in Malumfashi local government area of Katsina on Thursday 5th August, on their way from Igabi local government area of Kaduna state to Kankara local government area in Katsina for another devilish mission.
It further explained that a Toyota Corolla car with registration number Kaduna TRK 149 AE, three AK 47 rifles with magazines and ammunition, different types of charms, rings, cash and other items were recovered from them and he has since directed they be handed over to the Army Brigade in Katsina for further investigation.
The statement stated that on the transfer of the high calibre weapon manufacturer to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Gen. Marwa explained that from the briefs given by the Benue state command, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 4th August 2021 at exactly 6:30 am, in a bus belonging to CHI-Boy Transport Company, en route Onitsha to Jos when the vehicle was flagged down at Aliade check-point for search.
It noted that in the process, an iron box completely welded end to end was found in the vehicle, and when the passengers were questioned to know the owner, the suspect, accepted ownership.
The statement explained, “When the steel box was taken to the State Command headquarters along with the suspect, an electric filing machine was used to cut it open a fabricated high calibre G3 rifle along with seventy-eight (78) rounds of life ammunition (RLA) of 7.62mm calibre and five empty shells of same were discovered inside.”
It said the NDLEA Chairman asked that Celestine Chidiebere Christian be transferred to Abuja because of the calibre of weapon found with him, which he claims he manufactures.
He commended the Katsina and Benue State commands for their vigilance and unrelenting commitment to the mandate given the agency by President Muhammadu Buhari to rid the country of illicit substances and ultimately secure the nation from the activities of criminal gangs.
