In what military officials have described as a significant breakthrough, Nigerian troops have arrested a husband and wife allegedly involved in supplying weapons to terrorist groups operating across the North-West.
The suspects, identified as 40-year-old Abdullahi Balarabe and his 18-year-old wife, Shafaatu Abdullahi, were apprehended at a snap checkpoint in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during a joint security operation.
Major Samson Zhakom, spokesman for the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday night. He said the operation was based on actionable intelligence provided by an agency in Plateau State.
Troops reportedly intercepted the couple’s vehicle and recovered 1,207 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, believed to be destined for armed groups responsible for ongoing attacks in the region.
“In a coordinated operation to enhance security across the Joint Operations Area, troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, in collaboration with Sector 1 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, tracked and apprehended two notorious gunrunners on October 8,” Zhakom said.
He added that the suspects and the seized ammunition were now in custody for further investigation aimed at dismantling the wider gunrunning network.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, commended the troops for their “bravery, vigilance, and proactive efforts.”
“This successful operation underscores the critical importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating criminal activities,” Oyinlola said, assuring residents of Plateau and surrounding states of the military’s continued commitment to restoring peace.
“We will not relent in our efforts to eradicate the activities of terrorists and criminal elements, thereby fostering a secure environment where peace and prosperity can thrive,” he added.
The arrest comes amid a renewed military push to disrupt the flow of arms and ammunition feeding banditry and insurgency across Nigeria’s North-West, where hundreds of communities remain vulnerable to violent attacks and mass abductions.
