Police in Niger State have recovered 15 pump-action rifles from suspected arms dealers in the state.
The state's Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, stated this at a press conference where he paraded 23 suspected criminals at the police headquarters on Wednesday.
He said a police patrol team from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, was on routine patrol duty along Maikunkele-Tegina road, Minna, on August 4, when it intercepted a red Toyota Corolla car with registration number DKA 877 HJ.
“The vehicle was intercepted with three occupants including the driver and during interrogation, surprisingly under the pretext of facilitating their situation, the occupants fled and upon searching the vehicle, fifteen (15) pump action automatic rifles with thirty (30) cartridges were found hidden in a bag in the vehicle,” Danmamman said.
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He said concerted efforts were being made to trace the owner of the vehicle and arrest the suspects.
The police chief said the case was still under investigation by SCID Minna.