Police said as many as 84 suspects were arrested for the illegal manufacture and distribution of vehicle registration plates, kidnapping, banditry, theft and homicide. Force public relations officer Frank Mba announced this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said some of the suspects had been arrested for suspected arms trafficking, illicit possession of weapons, illegal possession of firearms and other offenses. Mba said the suspects, including three women, were arrested in different parts of the country in April and May. He said the arrests were major achievements recorded by the main operational and investigative units of the police, the intelligence response team and the special tactical squad.

He also said the achievements had nothing to do with other historic investigative and operational breakthroughs in the various zones and state commands across the country. He said 45 assorted firearms, including one GPMG rifle, 17 AK-47 rifles, 20 locally made AK-47 rifles, two pumps and three single barreled rifles were recovered from the suspects.

Mba noted that the other exhibits recovered from the suspects were 9,899 live ammunition, largely composed of AK-47 and GPMG live ammunition.

He said kidnapping unions operating between the borders of Sokoto state and the Republic of Niger were among the suspects. Mba said the suspects carried out several operations on both sides of the border. He said that this verification revealed that the chief was also a convict from the Republic of Niger. Mba said two suspects, including a student from the University of Jos, were arrested for culpable homicide. He said three suspects were arrested for making and distributing illegal vehicle registration plates. Mba said all suspects will be charged in court when the investigation is completed. (NAA)

(NAN)