Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have apprehended suspects allegedly involved in supplying firearms and illicit drugs to bandits operating in various parts of the country.

The arrests were announced on Tuesday during a press briefing by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in Abuja.

Hundeyin revealed that the IRT arrested two suspected arms suppliers, John Magah, 45, and Ishaya Stephen, 43, during an ongoing investigation. Magah was identified as a local gun fabricator who facilitates the sale of arms and ammunition to bandits.

He said, “Operatives of the IRT arrested John Magah, aged 45, and Ishaya Stephen, aged 43, recovering one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, one pump-action gun, and four live cartridges. Investigations revealed that they supply weapons to bandits and to Daudume Bayina, who has also been apprehended. Magah is a gun fabricator involved in the sale of these arms and ammunition. Both suspects have been in the arms business for over five years, operating within Adamawa State and along the Cameroonian border. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.”

In a separate operation, a suspected drug supplier, Ifeanyi Egbeke, 40, was arrested on November 2, 2025, in Kaduna State. Acting on intelligence and in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), operatives intercepted a vehicle and recovered 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. Investigations revealed that Egbeke supplied drugs to bandits in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states.

The police also announced the arrest of an alleged gunrunner, Salisu Mohammed, alias Mande Dawa, in Birnin Tasaba village, Zumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Officers recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 32 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside a 50kg bag of millet. Mohammed reportedly admitted to delivering weapons to bandits along the Obajana axis of Kogi State.

Additionally, Uchenna Ikpe was apprehended while transporting 24 bags of Indian hemp from Lagos to Abuja. He claimed he was to deliver the drugs for a fee of N150,000.

In Kaduna State, Yunana Iliya, also known as Bado, 34, was arrested over alleged arms dealing and kidnapping. Officers recovered five AK-47 rifles and 150 rounds of live ammunition. The suspect reportedly confessed to supplying weapons to bandits and participating in the kidnapping of four children.

Hundeyin stated that investigations are ongoing in all the cases, with intensified efforts to arrest other suspects linked to these crimes.