By Abaire Olanlesi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has intercepted a former immigration officer attempting to sell high-powered firearms to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forests.
The suspect, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested in an intelligence-led operation, preventing the sale of a Scorpion CZ EVO3 automatic firearm with an inbuilt silencer, along with 52 rounds of ammunition.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Mustafa Mohammed, Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, said the intervention thwarted what could have been a major security threat.
“This weapon, a 2022 model, is highly sophisticated and could have been devastating in the hands of criminals. It is capable of firing in single, automatic, or burst mode,” he stated.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, also disclosed that between January 1 and February 28, 2025, security forces arrested 300 suspects, including 59 armed robbers, 10 kidnappers, and 16 cultists.
Seven kidnappers and nine armed robbers were neutralized in coordinated raids.
Targeted operations in Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, and Maitama have led to the dismantling of criminal hideouts, with police vowing to intensify surveillance and crackdowns to ensure public safety.