Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 35 suspected members of a gun-running syndicate during a major intelligence-led operation across Rivers and Bayelsa States.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, the suspects are believed to be key players in the trafficking of small arms and weapons to criminal groups operating across the Niger Delta region.
During the operation, troops recovered a cache of arms, including two English-made pistols, four locally fabricated pistols, and a double-barrelled gun.
Three ringleaders of the syndicate identified as Dedei Innocent, Alabor Godknows, and Godwin Osik are currently in custody and assisting military investigators. Their arrest also led to the discovery of several illegal crude oil refining sites in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the suspects and seized items remain in their custody for now, but will be handed over to the police upon the conclusion of military investigations for further prosecution.
The Army says the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of arms and dismantle criminal networks in the region.