Segun Atanda/
Police hunting armed robbers behind the raids of petrol stations, banks and snatching of cars in five Nigerian states have uncovered how the gang concealed arms and ammunition in the bonnet of a Mazda car used in their operations.
The discovery was made by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after the arrest of six suspected members of the gang that was allegedly operating within Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NewsmakersNG learnt that three AK47 Rifles, one K2 Rifle, one Pump Action gun, and over 500 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang.
After the parade of the suspects in Kwara today, the Police told NewsmakersNG that the IRT operatives were deployed to Kwara State by IGP Ibrahim K Idris following complaints from residents of Ilorin, the state capital.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested after unrelenting follow-up and deployment of technology and support from the Kwara State commissioner of police and his personnel.
One of the arrested suspects was identified as James Obaje, 34, a native of Dekina LGA of Kogi State whose confession allegedly led to the arrest of other gang members namely: Nelson Yakubu, 36, from Dekina area of Kogi, identified as the gang leader and a key lieutenant of the notorious Zakari Yau gang that was smashed in Kogi by the IRT; Yakubu Danladi, 27, who hails from Anpka in Kogi; Ibrahim Mutari, 25, also a native of Dekina; Suleiman Ilo, 35, a native of Omala area of Kogi, and Gboyega Olaoye, 35, from Ekiti, in Kwara LGA of Kwara State.
The suspects were arrested within Kwara, Kaduna, and Kogi states in the operation coordinated by DCP Abba Kyari.
Serial numbers of the recovered rifles were listed as KO349815, KO349265, 59476, 301035. There is one with a defaced Serial number.
Also recovered were 311 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 286 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, the Mazda 626 operational vehicle marked KEY627DS.
The IRT operatives said that they found the rifles hidden inside the Engine Compartment of the Car.
Several charms and vehicle number plates were also allegedly recovered from the suspects.
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