Ex-Immigration Officer Arrested for Supplying Arms to Bandits in FCT

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a dismissed immigration officer for attempting to supply sophisticated firearms to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna forests. The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, was apprehended in an intelligence-led operation that prevented the weapons from reaching criminal elements.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Mustafa Mohammed, head of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, emphasized the significance of the arrest in curbing insecurity in the region. “Acting on credible intelligence, the command intercepted these weapons from a dismissed immigration officer who was attempting to sell them to bandits terrorizing the Abuja-Kaduna forest. The operation was carried out just in time, preventing the arms from being delivered,” he stated.

Among the weapons recovered was a Scorpion CZ EVO3, a highly advanced automatic firearm equipped with a built-in silencer. Mohammed noted that the firearm, a 2022 model of the Scorpion series, features single, automatic, and burst firing modes, with a magazine capacity of 20 to 30 rounds. Alongside the weapon, the police seized 52 rounds of ammunition, which authorities believe could have posed a significant security threat if they had reached criminal groups.

Meanwhile, FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, disclosed that between January 1 and February 28, 2025, the command arrested 300 suspects in various operations targeting criminal activities across the capital. Among those arrested were 59 suspected armed robbers, 10 kidnappers and their informants, and 16 suspected cultists. Additionally, security forces neutralized nine armed robbers and seven kidnappers in separate encounters.

Disu further revealed that the police had intensified targeted raids on known criminal hideouts across the FCT, including Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo, and Maitama. He assured that abandoned buildings frequently used as hideouts by criminals had been identified and would remain under continuous surveillance and police operations.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to tackling insecurity in the FCT, warning that individuals involved in arms trafficking, aiding kidnappers, or engaging in other criminal activities will face the full weight of the law. The arrest of the former immigration officer underscores the ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply chains that enable violent crimes in the region.