Troops of Sector 7, Operation ENDURING PEACE, have disrupted a suspected arms trafficking network in Kaduna State, recovering a cache of illegal firearms believed to have been destined for Niger State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, followed credible intelligence on the movement of illicit weapons from Jos, Plateau State.
Acting on the tip-off, the troops mounted a targeted stop-and-search operation at the Samaru Checkpoint in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, where they intercepted an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz suspected to be conveying the weapons.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and four submachine guns carefully concealed inside the car.
The Army said one of the suspects attempted to flee during the operation but was shot while trying to escape arrest.
He was immediately evacuated to the Sector 7 Medical Centre in Kafanchan, where he is receiving treatment.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the recovered weapons were allegedly supplied by two suspected arms dealers based in Jos and were being transported to an intended recipient in Niger State.
The interception is seen as another significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms and dismantle criminal networks operating across parts of the country.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with other security agencies to deny criminal elements the freedom to operate, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that will aid security forces in tackling crime and safeguarding lives and property nationwide.
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