Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), have arrested a couple, Abdullahi Balarabe (40) and his 18-year-old wife, Shafaatu, at a checkpoint in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, for alleged gunrunning.
The suspects were intercepted following actionable intelligence from a security agency in Plateau State, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by Major Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of Operation Enduring Peace.
Major Zhakom said the couple was apprehended on October 8 during a coordinated operation conducted by troops of JTF-OPEP in collaboration with Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), as part of efforts to curb the proliferation of arms and enhance security across the joint operations area.
“In a coordinated operation to enhance security across the Joint Operations Area, troops of JTF-OPEP, in collaboration with OPFY, tracked and apprehended two notorious gunrunners,” Zhakom stated.
He added that the suspects were intercepted at a snap checkpoint jointly manned by troops of both operations at the outskirts of Saminaka.“The operation, prompted by actionable intelligence from an intelligence agency in Plateau, led to the recovery of 1,207 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, believed to be destined for armed groups operating in the North-West region,” the statement added.
The media officer confirmed that the suspects and recovered items are in custody and currently undergoing further investigation.
He reiterated the commitment of the Joint Task Force to maintaining peace and stability across Plateau, Kaduna, and Bauchi states, noting that operations would continue to track and dismantle criminal networks threatening security in the region.
