Abuja: Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested a suspected arms trafficker and recovered weapons, ammunition, and other items during a covert operation in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation, according to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, was carried out by Sector 6 troops at the Makera checkpoint following credible intelligence on the movement of illegal arms.
Acting on the intelligence, troops intercepted a suspect believed to be transporting weapons in a white Peugeot vehicle from Jos South towards the Makera axis of Riyom.
The suspect was stopped at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the checkpoint.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols, 167 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three cans of pepper spray, and a jackknife.
Other items recovered included two mobile phones, two cutlasses, a police identity tag, three photographs of the suspect in police uniform, two ATM cards, a National Identification Number (NIN) card, and ₦73,300 in cash.
Preliminary investigations reportedly identified the suspect as a dismissed police inspector, formerly attached to Nigeria Police Force Base 7, Abuja.
He is currently in the custody of Operation Safe Haven and is undergoing further investigation.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to determine possible links to criminal networks and the intended destination of the recovered weapons.
The arrest is part of ongoing security operations aimed at curbing illegal arms proliferation in Plateau State and neighbouring areas.