Troops of “Operation Sahel Sanity” said they had arrested three illegal arms dealers from Niger Republic for supplying arms to bandits in the North West part of the country.
Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, made the disclosure during a news briefing at the Special Army Super Camp, Faskari, Katsina State on Monday.
Onyeuko gave the names of the suspects as Adamu Alhassan, Salisu Adamu and Abdullahi Sani.
He said the troops arrested the Nigeriens at Dantudu, Malailai District of Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He said: “On August 15, 2020, Operation Sahel Sanity troops deployed to Forward Operation Base, after a painstaking undercover operation, successfully smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate.
“They specialised in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West zone from across international borders.”
The Acting Director disclosed that items recovered from the hoodlums included six AK 47 rifles, three AK 47 rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition that were concealed in various parts of their vehicle.
Onyeuko said preliminary investigation revealed that the dangerous consignments were meant for some bandits in Issa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He added that one of the arrested suspects, Alhassan, a diabetic and hypertensive patient, however died in the hospital, where he was rushed for treatment.
Onyeuko said investigation was ongoing to arrest all those involved in the chain of heinous activities in collaboration with intelligence and security agencies from the neighbouring countries.
In another development, the Acting Director said the troops in a clearance operation destroyed 12 bandits’ camps at Yobebaranda in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said the troops neutralised three bandits, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
He further said the troops arrested five bandits’ informants at Danjibga, two at Anka, one each at Maru, Wanke, Magami, all in Zamfara State on August 12.
Onyeuko said the arrested suspects were being interrogated by the troops before handing over to the appropriate prosecuting authority.
He urged the people of the zone to continue to provide intelligence to the troops.