Troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, have arrested two suspected illegal arm dealers along Funtua-Gusau road in Zamfara on Sunday.
Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were on their way to deliver ammunition to armed bandits.
Mr Usman, a brigadier-general, said that they were caught driving a Golf Volkswagen car with registration “number AWE-534-AA (Nasarawa) containing 1,479 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.”
According to him, the suspects are in custody of SSS.
Mr Usman said the troops deployed at Dangulbi in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara also arrested three armed bandits while on routine patrol.
“The team recovered one AK-47 rifle magazine, 40 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, N45,500, Nokia mobile telephone handset battery and three Airtel SIM cards,” he said.
In a related development, he said the troops also arrested a suspected cattle rustler, Abdullahi Nakogiwo, at Dalingen in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.