The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AK-47

  • Fleeing suspect abandons fabricated AK-47 rifle in Anambra apartment 

    Fleeing suspect abandons fabricated AK-47 rifle in Anambra apartment 

    Police in Anambra state have recovered abandoned fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine without ammunition in an apartment at Umuike Village, Awka in Awka Local Government Area.

    Anambra police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this on Friday said the arms were recovered by Police Operatives attached to Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu following tip off.

    He said the arms were abandoned by the suspect who fled through the back door on sighting the operatives. 

    Ikenga added that the suspect had been on the run since the incident, assuring that efforts were on to apprehend and bring him to justice. 

    Read Also: Anambra by-election: Political titans set for defining contest

    He said, “Police Operatives attached the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu on 14th August 2025 acting on credible intelligence recovered an abandoned fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine without ammunition in an apartment at Umuike Village, Awka.  

    “This was in continuation of ongoing investigations into a case of conspiracy, murder, and unlawful possession of firearms where two male victims were gruesomely murdered at Okochi Village, Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area.

    “The principal suspect, identified as Nwajagu (other names unknown), has been on the run since the incident and was traced to an apartment in Awka. Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect fled through the back door. 

    “The Command hereby assures that efforts are being intensified to apprehend and bring the fleeing suspect to justice. Meanwhile, the firearm has been recovered and taken into custody as an exhibit.”

  • Illegal fabrication of AK-47 ongoing in Lagos, CP tells IG

    Illegal fabrication of AK-47 ongoing in Lagos, CP tells IG

    The fabrication of AK-47s and other firearms in Lagos State is worrisome, Commissioner of Police Idowu Owohunwa said yesterday.

    He raised the alarm during the inauguration of the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) by the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.

    Owohunwa said there was increasing local expertise in the fabrication of firearms, including replicas of foreign-made pistols, AK47s and other assault rifles.

    This trend, coupled with the threat of cultism, he said, potent security danger.

    Read Also: AK-47, other firearms fabricated in Lagos, says CP

    Aside from the threat of cultism, the CP said other threats include armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and sexual and gender-based violence.

    “We are also constantly confronted with the challenge of dissecting and dealing with the thin line between the civil and criminal dynamics of land disputes which are also prevalent in the state.

    “Also of routine concern is the traffic gridlock and the attendant occasional traffic robberies which are compounded by ongoing road projects across the state including, in particular, the Lagos-Ibadan highway.

    “The crime profile of the state is further accentuated by the prevalence of illegal firearms proliferation, and illicit drug abuse and trafficking.

    “Hardly does a day pass by without the ever vigilant operatives of the command recovering weapons and illicit drugs of various descriptions at stop and search points, raids of black spots, and other operational engagements with all such recoveries linked to the perfection of crimes across the State.

    “Most worrisome in all these is a noticeable trend that indicates an increasing local expertise in the fabrication of various types of firearms including replicas of foreign-made pistols, AK47s and other assault rifles.

    “This trend, coupled with the threat of cultism, poses a potent danger to the security space of Lagos State if nothing drastic is done by all strategic state actors and the citizens to complement the efforts of the Police in rolling back the dangerous tide.”

    The CP said officers of the command have embraced the IGP’s vision of intelligence-led, citizens-driven, and operationally proactive policing.

    “We are also leveraging our strong inter-agency synergy with the Department of State Services, the military detachments in the state and other state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies in the state.

    “Above all, we are adopting a problem-solving framework that is founded on the policing principle of zero-tolerance to crime, the practice of crime-mapping, and utilisation of crime statistics and intelligence analysis tools to support perspective policing,” he said.

    Egbetokun said the effects of a new policing strategy would soon be felt across the country.

    Calling for patience and collaboration, he reiterated his commitment to ensuring that armed violence and other forms of criminality were reduced to the barest minimum.

    The IG said CRU was not to witch-hunt anyone but to promote accountability and transparency.

    On insecurity along the Abuja-Kaduna axis, Egbetokun said the first batch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) was set for deployment to pilot states.

    “Very soon, the SIS will become operational in the pilot states. Just give us a little more time and you will start seeing our actions delivering results.

    “With regard to welfare, luckily, we have a government in place that cares so much about the welfare of the police and understands the security challenges in the police.

    “I have the assurances of Mr. President that efforts are already underway to bring smiles to the faces of policemen in Nigeria.”

    The IG said the police would soon have a vibrant forensic department, noting that the service was addressing issues one after the other.

    He said CRU would also be set up in other states, adding: “Officers that would be deployed to man the CRU will be carefully selected with impeccable integrity. 

    “They will be so well motivated with opportunities for training overseas if necessary.”

    Addressing officers and men after unveiling the CRU, the IGP warned them against extortion, unethical and unprofessional conduct.

    He reminded them that policing actions must be geared towards building trust and getting the necessary support from the people.

    Egbetokun told them: “Shun extortion because it is giving us a bad image. True blessing comes from God. If you want God’s blessing, you won’t engage in extortion.”

    The CRU was built with support from former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Apata, Airtel Nigeria and 9Mobile.

    Aside from being a platform for complaints against police operatives, it would serve as a crime reporting platform, with incident numbers generated for tracking.

    Activist-lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), lauded the initiative, stressing that it was in line with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020.

    He promised to sponsor the establishment of four CRUs in four different states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), praising the IG for being an exemplary officer in the 34 years he had known him with no negative report heard.

    Falana advised police operatives against torture and unlawful detention, reminding them that the punishments as prescribed by the Police Act, 2020 were stiff.

    “Torture has become a serious offence, it now attracts 25 years imprisonment if the suspect dies. Whoever is involved will be charged with murder.

    “Very soon, we are starting visitations to police stations. Every month, the Chief Magistrate will visit every police station in Nigeria. During the visit, the Magistrate can grant bail, order the arraignment of a suspect or ask the suspect to go home.

    “The Magistrate is also empowered to report any police officer who abuses the rights of suspects and as a matter of fact, Section 6 of the Police Establishment Act says every police station shall have a lawyer assigned to it to monitor human rights complaints.”

    Akpata, who sought more support for the police, pledged to build more CRUs at Delta and Edo commands.

    President of Women Arise, Dr. Josephine Okei-Odumakin, promised to undertake the training of the personnel to be deployed at the CRU.

    She highlighted the importance of CRU to citizen-driven policing with statistics since its establishment at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

  • AK-47, other firearms fabricated in Lagos, says CP

    AK-47, other firearms fabricated in Lagos, says CP

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP, Idowu Owohunwa, has described as worrisome, a noticeable trend that showed that AK-47 rifles, other firearms were being illegally manufactured in the state.

    Owohunwa expressed the concern at the inauguration of the state’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU) by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun held at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    Delivering his welcome address, Owohunwa said there was an increasing local expertise in the fabrication of various types of firearms including replicas of foreign made pistols, AK47 and other assault rifles.

    This trend, coupled with the threat of cultism, he said, projected a potent danger to the security space in the state.

    Read Also: Criminals more dangerous, ruthless nowadays, says police AIG

    Aside from the threat of cultism, the CP said other security threats in the state included armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and sexual and gender based violence.

    He said: “We are also constantly confronted with the challenge of dissecting and dealing with the thin line between the civil and criminal dynamics of land disputes which are also prevalent in the state.

    “Also of routine concern is the traffic gridlock and the attendant occasional traffic robberies which are compounded by on-going road projects across the state including, in particular, the Lagos-Ibadan highway.

    “The crime profile of the state is further accentuated by the prevalence of illegal firearms proliferation, and illicit drug abuse and trafficking.

    “Hardly does a day pass by without the ever vigilant operatives of the command recovering weapons and illicit drugs of various descriptions at stop and search points, raids of black spots, and other operational engagements with all such recoveries linked to the perfection of crimes across the State.

    “Most worrisome in all these is a noticeable trend that indicates an increasing local expertise in the fabrication of various types of firearms including replicas of foreign made pistols, AK47 and other assault rifles.

    “This trend, coupled with the threat of cultism, projects a potent danger to the security space of Lagos State and if nothing drastic is done by all strategic State actors and the citizens to complement the efforts of the Police in rolling back the dangerous tide.

    “In cognizance of this, we are planning to organise a conference in the coming weeks with intent to mainstream the discourse on cultism and violent crimes in Lagos and galvanise all strategic stakeholders and the different levels of governance in the State to the evolving threat.

    “This is with the overall goal of adopting a whole-of-society approach to mitigating the trend. The groundwork for the Conference is being currently perfected and we look forward to inviting the IGP to return to Lagos and declare the event open in due course. It is our expectation that the IGP will once again, honour the Command with his attendance.”

    Owohunwa said the IG’s maiden visit provided an opportunity to brief him on the internal security situation in Lagos, the strides attained and gaps his support would be needed to bridge.

    Continuing, the CP said he had focused on galvanizing all officers of the command towards perfecting operational strategies and providing strategic leadership founded on discipline, professional integrity as a pathway to sustaining the exceptional policing framework.

    He added: “Working as an intertwined team, I am glad to report that officers of the command have embraced the vision of the IGP and perfected the leadership models of intelligence-led, citizens-driven, and operationally proactive policing.

    “We are also leveraging our strong inter-agency synergy with the Department of State Services, the military detachments in the state and other state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies in the state.

    “Above all, we are adopting a problem-solving framework that is founded on the policing principle of zero-tolerance to crime, the practice of crime-mapping, and utilization of crime statistics and intelligence analysis tools to support perspective policing.

    “We have imbibed a new policing orientation that emphasizes proactive approach to identification and mitigation of threats.

    “Through these initiatives, we have succeeded in re-dominating the public security space, limited the liberty of criminals to breach public peace, and have significantly stabilized the security order across the state.

    “Our capacity to prevent or respond to major security breaches and bring felons to deserved justice has been appreciably enhanced and today, we are steadily building Lagos into an impregnable fortress against criminal elements…”

    Acknowledging that there were isolated security breaches of concern, Owohunwa noted that his officers and men had proven that they had a record of resilience, synergy, diligence, courage, sacrifice, and the right motivation to present a common front that will, undoubtedly, continue to smoke out and bring all criminal elements in the state to deserved justice in the fullness of time.

  • ‘Security personnel exempted from N1M AK 47 reward in Zamfara’

    Zamfara state government has made clarification with regard to its offer of N1 million reward to “anyone” who recovers AK 47 rifle from bandits in the state,  saying security personnel are exempted from the reward.

    Speaking at press conference organised by the Operation Sharan Daji in Gusau on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Enlightenment, Ibrahim Dosara said, “such beneficiaries do not include the security operatives.

    “The gesture was introduced by the state government as an incentive to members of the public to assist the security agencies in the recovery of illegal firearms as part of effort to curtail crime and criminal activities in the state, ” he said.

    He said, the military as custodians of arms were supposed to check and seize all illegal firearms in the hands of individuals and groups in order to ensure a peaceful and violent free society.

    The governor’s aide was responding to a question whether military personnel who recently recovered 24 AK 47 rifles from bandits in the state would receive their commensurate reward of N24 million as promised by governor Abdulaziz Yari.

    NAN recalls that about three weeks ago the governor promised that “Anyone who seizes an AK 47 rifle from an illegal holder and brings it to the state government will receive a cash reward of N1 million and if any person or group brings 100 AK 47 rifles, the reward of N100 million will definitely be given.”

    Speaking at the press conference, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. John Agim said in recent encounters with the armed bandits in the state, soldiers of the expanded Operation Sharan Daji now known as “Operation 777” recovered a total of 24 AK 47 rifles from the bandits among other sophisticated and locally made firearms and ammunition. (NAN)

  • RRS recovers AK 47 from fleeing suspects

    RRS recovers AK 47 from fleeing suspects

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have recovered an AK 47 rifle dropped by three fleeing young men in Apapa.

    The operatives also arrested a 23-year-old man Ayobami Adedeji for alleged bag snatching.

    The operatives, who were on routine patrol of Apapa sighted the men around 11p.m last Friday carrying a bag.

    On sighting the officers, they dropped the bag containing the riffle and fled.

    The rifle has been deposited at the RRS Headquarters.

    Adedeji, who operates on an okada was chased by the operatives on routine patrol of Kola Bus Stop, in Alagbado, Lagos, after snatching a hand bag around 10pm.

    He with his accomplice, who he referred to as Aboki, snatched the hand bag of Kudirat Oyebade at Kola Bus Stop.

    The operatives, who were close to the scene of the incident, chased the motorcyclist and arrested him.

    Adedeji was quoted by RRS as saying: “I was a bus conductor. I went to Kotangora market to meet Aboki on how to raise money for ourselves.

    “We have been together for a long time. At around 2p.m on Monday, we perfected the plan to operate together on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway but our focus were Adura and Council bus stops around Alagbado. Our priorities were handbags and purses.”

    “We had snatched two bags and my colleague was keeping the money before our last botched operation. This was our first time.

    “Unfortunately for me, I didn’t know RRS operatives were monitoring us. I snatched the bag and they chased us into the streets. My colleague escaped and I was arrested.

    “I dropped out in SS1 after losing my mother. My father was just a ceremonial father. He never cared about me since the death of my mother. He never assisted me but I had to fend for myself after the death of my mother.”

    Adedeji has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.

  • Herdsman arrested with AK7 riffles

    Herdsman arrested with AK7 riffles

    A Fulani herdsman has been arrested with   seven AK 47 rifles in Anyibe, Benue State.

    He is currently in the custody of 72 Special Forces Battalion in Makurdi, according to the commander of the peace keeping troops at Anyiin.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect was arrested during a patrol by soldiers protecting the country home of Governor Gabriel Suswam.

    The suspect was said to have taken to his heels ion sighting the soldiers who became suspicious.

    They gave him a hot pursuit and he was caught in no time.

    During the interrogation that followed his arrest, he led the soldiers to a hole in which he hid the weapons.

    Herdsmen have launched series of attacks s on villages and hamlets in Benue State killing and maiming people.

    Houses and other property including farms and produce were either set ablaze or destroyed by them.

     

  • Police discover arms in Kebbi

    Police discover arms in Kebbi

    The police in Kebbi State have impounded arms and ammunition in Rafin Kuka, Yauri Local Government Area.

    Commissioner of Police Sylvester Umeh, displaying the weapons at the Force Headquarters, said three AK-47 rifles; seven AK-7 magazines, 198 live ammunition, 131 other extra ammunition, one paramour pistol and eight rounds of live ammunition were buried in the sand on the outskirts of Rafin Kuka village.

    He said a concerned resident reported that he saw an unidentified person burying the arms.

    “He alerted the Yauri Divisional Police Officer and this led to the discovery of the weapons. No arrest has been made. But we are investigating the matter.”

  • Suswam didn’t absolve Fulani herdsmen, says Benue govt

    Suswam didn’t absolve Fulani herdsmen, says Benue govt

    Governor Gabriel Suswan is preoccupied with finding a permanent solution to the attacks on Tiv by Fulani herdsmen, the Benue State government said yesterday.

    It explained in a statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, that the governor did not absolve the Fulani herdsmen as claimed in reports in the newspapers on Monday.

    Fulani herdsmen have been attacking and killing Tiv farmers and disappearing into neighbouring states, thereby making it difficult for them to be tracked.

    Some of the herdsmen use sophisticated weapons including AK 47 rifles, it was learnt.

    Yesterday’s statement said Suswam could not have exonerated the herdsmen in view of the persistent killings of Tivs in their farms in the last three years.

    “It is true that His Excellency addressed members of the media at the end of a meeting he convened on December 28 with representatives of State security agencies, political leaders, spiritual fathers and traditional rulers including His Royal Highness, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv iv, Local Government Council Chairmen and other stakeholders from the affected local government areas following the Christmas eve and Boxing day attacks in Guma Local Government area which led to loss of lives.

    “Governor Suswam regretted the Christmas Eve and Boxing Day incidents and among several other security measures appointed a committee of eminent persons from the affected local government areas to assist the security agencies with additional information to get to the root of the matter especially those involved in the clashes.

    It is instructive to note that the violent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in some parts of Benue, has been persistent in the last three years. Over the last three years suspected Fulani Herdsmen have sacked several communities in Benue state in violent attacks that led to the killing of dozens of people and the accompany destruction of valuable property and farms.

    “Over the years also, thousands of people in the affected local government areas have been displaced as a result of the attacks by the invading Fulani Herdsmen. “Most of the farmers have abandoned their homesteads and their economic activities of farming and relocated to Makurdi and other cities in the state.

    “In almost all the clashes, the attacking Fulani herdsmen usually disappeared into the neighbouring Nasarawa state after the attacks.

    “This unfortunate development was responsible for the several meetings Governor Suswam held with his Nasarawa state counterpart to try to find a common solution to the problem.

    “The two governors even set up joint peace committees to monitor their common borders and provided the necessary logistics for the committee members to report any security threat to the police and other security agencies.

    As part of efforts to resolve this problem, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa,ad Abubakar visited Benue state at the invitation of Governor Suswam in 2012 to hold meetings with Fulani herdsmen and their community leaders in the state on the need to live in peace with their host communities.

    Against this background therefore, Governor Suswam would not have “absolved” the Fulanis of the killing of Tiv farmers.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Suswam is more concerned about how to work with all parties to evolve long lasting solutions to the lingering Fulani/Tiv incessant clashes rather than embark on the fruitless mission of fault finding as to absolve one party in the crisis of wrong doing.

    Governor Suswam’s comments which were unfortunately misrepresented were specific about the Christmas Eve and Boxing Day attacks in Guma Local government area which he blamed on some criminal elements that he vowed to fish out. This did not in any way suggest or imply that the Governor had absolved the Fulanis of killings in the lingering crisis between the Fulani Herdsmen and the Tiv farmers.”

  • My story, by skipper, who pirates threatened to burn alive

    My story, by skipper, who pirates threatened to burn alive

    A British skipper has broken his silence to tell of his four-day ordeal after he was seized off Nigeria’s coast, writes The Sunday Times.

    A SCOTTISH sea captain seized by Nigerian pirates has told how he was threatened with being burnt to death during an ordeal that ended only when a £50,000 ransom was paid.

    Joe Westland, 63, was skippering the Saint Patrick supply vessel when it was attacked by pirates three miles off the coast of Nigeria in May.

    The pirates, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and travelling in two high-powered speedboats, also attacked two other vessels, including a tanker, the Lady Swathin.

    Mr Westland, from Angus, said faking a heart attack may have saved his life, persuading his captors to accept a reduced payout for his release.

    The kidnap has chilling similarities to the one portrayed in Captain Phillips, the film starring Tom Hanks – the true story of a ship’s master taken hostage off Somalia and eventually rescued by American special forces.

    Mr Westland said: “At around 1am I was awoken by banging, crashing and shouting. I was very scared.

    “I locked my door and hid in the en suite toilet.

    “Moments later, I heard loud crashing on my cabin door and then I saw sledgehammers coming through the toilet door.

    “I wanted to avoid injury so I opened the door and was confronted by six pirates with masks, machine-guns and shotguns.”

    Mr Westland was forced to lie flat in one of the motorboats as the pirates ransacked the vessel, stealing televisions, phones, laptops, music players, food and drink. The attackers failed to scramble aboard the second vessel so instead headed towards the Lady Swathin, where again they seized money, mobile phones and laptops.

    Shots were fired during the raids, but no one was injured.

    Mr Westland said one of the pirates warned they were demanding £750,000, and if it was not paid, they would “set me on fire and burn me alive”.

    He was locked inside a makeshift hut for nearly four days in soaring temperatures, with only small bottles of water and a packet of cigarettes, while his captors wore his watch, wedding ring and other jewellery belonging to him.

    “I thought I was never getting out of there alive,” he said. “It was terrifying.”

    Worried for his family, his wife Helen, his crew and his own safety, his health began to deteriorate, and he contracted malaria.

    Negotiations began with PW Nigeria, the company that owned the ship at the time, but the ransom demands were still more than £500,000.

    His faked heart attack coincided with a new offer from the company worth almost £50,000.

    “The pirates were very concerned that I was going to die, and agreed to accept this money,” Mr Westland said.

    He was taken by boat to a handover, where he was handed over in exchange for a holdall of cash, and later flown back to Britain to be reunited with his family.

    Westland is still recovering from the trauma and requires psychiatric help while he awaits full settlement from his company. His days at sea are over.

    The captain’s story has not previously emerged because of a news blackout while he was a hostage, a common practice during kidnappings. However, he feels abandoned, claiming the British government did little to help him at the time and that Nigeria has done little since.

    He believes the silence over his ordeal is a deliberate ploy by the Nigerian government to play down the increasing danger for expatriates working offshore in Nigeria’s oil industry. The country produces more oil than any other nation in Africa. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau, which receives and disseminates reports of piracy, 30 of the 234 incidents reported worldwide in 2013 were off the coast of Nigeria.

    Westland said: “I’ve decided to tell my story as part of my recovery from a terrifying ordeal but also to highlight the increasing dangers as the international oil industry increases its presence in the west coast of Africa.”

    He plans to write a book about his experience. “The pirates who captured me told me this was payback because they are not getting the benefits of Nigeria’s oil among their people. Kidnapping and piracy are their way of responding.”

    It is common practice in the area to allow the company to take the lead in negotiating with the pirates. The British government says it does not pay ransoms.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We stood by to provide consular assistance if it was needed.”

    PW Nigeria did not respond to requests for comment.