Arms trafficking: Rtd Police officer arrested with driver

By Chinenyeh Ozor, Nsukka
Security agents stationed along the ever-busy Enugu – Makurdi Expressway recently, apprehended a retired deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and a commercial driver who were conveying live ammunitions to the northern part of the country.

The retired police officer whose name was simply given as Abu Aruna, hails from Kogi State and resides at Ikom, Cross River State while the driver was identified as Onuwa Attaka.

The suspects were allegedly conveying ammunitions to Taraba State from Ikot Ekpene, Cross River State when the military men on duty along Orba axis at the Enugu-Markudi express way intercepted them. It was learnt that the soldiers wanted to know the contents of the bags loaded in their vehicle especially as they were seen on the road late in the night.

How they were arrested

Crime Guard gathered that as soon as the soldiers led by one staff Sergeant Maurice opened the baggage inside the vehicle, they sighted four boxes of Ak 47 live bullets of 7.62mm special and they quickly ordered the four occupants of the vehicle to alight.

One of the occupants who was dressed in full police uniform as a corporal reportedly came down and pretended as if he was going to ease himself. He took to his heels and disappeared into a nearby bush together with another occupant.

Security sources intimated Crime Guard that after their arrest, the retired police officer gave the name of the fleeing police corporal simply as Solomon but could not disclose the identity of the second person.

The sources further alleged that the retired DSP has been into the arms deal since his retirement from the police force till his apprehension, adding that their unaccomplished mission to Taraba State was to supply the last batch of their consignment, after the buyers in Taraba sate paid them.

During interrogation, retired DSP Aruna reportedly admitted having supplied the first batch but the buyer complained that they did not supply in full hence they were on their way to Taraba State when the military men intercepted them around 11pm, last Saturday. He said that the fleeing corporal was a serving police officer but bluntly refused to disclose where he serves. However, the driver of the vehicle said he was merely hired from Owerri to Taraba State at the cost of N30.000 adding that he never knew they were conveying ammunitions to Taraba hence he did not question the content of their luggages.

Items recovered

It was gathered that 100 live cartridges, 40 pieces of Ak- 47 magazines, charms and Denny mopol uniform neatly wrapped in a suit case bag, four boxes of the Ak- 47 live ammunition containing 2,500 bullets making a total of 10,000 bullets, were recovered from the suspects.

When Crime Guard visited the scene of the crime, the two alleged arms traffickers were seen being driven away by the military men with their hands tied at the back for further interrogation.

Police react

In his comment over the arrest, the Area commander, Nigeria Police Command, Nsukka, Ros-Amson Musa Haladu (ACP), commended the efforts of the military men that apprehended the alleged suspected arms dealers, stating that both the military and police share one common interest in crime detection and prevention in the University town of Nsukka and its environs.

ACP Haladu appealed to the general public to assist the police by giving useful information as security of the nation is the business of everybody, not just the police and military, especially now that Boko Haram insurgency is terrifying the entire public in the country.