The Nigeria Police Force says its Border Patrol Unit has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing clampdown on smugglers, human traffickers, and cross-border criminals.
In a statement on Friday, Force spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin said the operations, carried out across several states, led to the recovery of petroleum products, arms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, illicit drugs, and the rescue of human trafficking victims.
According to the police, two trucks fully loaded with petrol were abandoned by fleeing smugglers in Gembu, Taraba State, after a hot chase. In another operation along a bush path near Nigeria’s border with Benin Republic, three motorcycles carrying 43 jerrycans of petrol were seized.
Similar arrests were made in Mubi, Adamawa State, where a Toyota Starlet conveying 60 jerrycans of petrol to Cameroon was intercepted, and in Jibia, Katsina State, where a motorcyclist abandoned his fuel consignment while trying to cross into Niger Republic.
The statement also confirmed the arrest of armed suspects. “
“At Ikom in Cross River State, two suspects were arrested with locally made pistols carefully concealed in their vehicle. Also, at Imeko, Ogun State, operatives recovered a pump-action rifle with ten live cartridges, along with 20 wraps of cannabis abandoned by traffickers,” the police said.
On human trafficking, operatives at Illela in Sokoto State arrested a 48-year-old suspected trafficker and an accomplice while attempting to traffic a 25-year-old victim into Niger Republic. At Bachaka, four suspects, including two women, were intercepted on their way to Libya and Italy without valid travel documents. All victims were rescued and placed in protective custody.
Further operations uncovered stolen and smuggled vehicles. At Jibia, Katsina State, police recovered a Toyota Corolla believed to have been stolen in Niger Republic. In Daura, officers seized a Toyota Carina loaded with illicit drugs, while another suspect was caught with 26 stolen Android phones.
The police added that in Mubi, Adamawa State, a notorious cross-border burglar known for motorcycle theft and serial shop break-ins was apprehended.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their “gallantry” and vowed to intensify efforts against criminal networks.
He said: “The Force will sustain intelligence-led policing, strengthen inter-agency and cross-border synergy, and intensify operations until all criminal networks are fully dismantled.”
(Daily Post)
