By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A black Toyota Corolla loaded with over 2,000 rounds of various grades of ammunition has been intercepted by Troops of Operation Whirl Punch, a special operation unit of the Nigerian Army.
The ammunitions being conveyed to bandits by a courier around Polewire in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria comprised 1,079 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 886 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition, and 139 rounds of 7.62mm tracer ammunition.
The troops followed up on credible intelligence around gunrunning activities, and in the course of diligent checks, stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle within the location of interest, Kaduna State Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said in a statement on Thursday, quoting a report forwarded to Kaduna State Government.
Southern Kaduna has in recent times recorded escalating violence traced to armed bandits with no clear-cut ideology. They have been blamed for the invasion of communities and mass abductions, particularly of school children.
The troops also discovered five empty AK-47 magazines in the vehicle, according to the statement.
The driver of the vehicle, according to the statement whose name was given as Aminu Abdullahi, has been taken into custody for further investigation.
Governor of the state Nasir El-Rufai appreciated the troops for their proactiveness in denying bandits a major supply of ammunitions meant to mete out more destruction and suffering on the communities dominated by peasant farmers and petty traders.
Governor El-Rufai charged the security forces to proceed with a thorough investigation of the arrested suspect, and intensify efforts towards dismantling gunrunning networks across the State and beyond.
