Niger State police have recovered 15 pump-action rifles from suspected gun runners along the Maikunkele-Tegina road and arrested 23 protesters involved in the destruction of the Tafa local government area secretariat during the recent national end hunger protest.
Niger State Commissioner of Police Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman announced at a press briefing in Minna that the firearms were discovered on Sunday in a red Toyota Corolla with registration number DKA 877 HJ, though the occupants managed to escape.
The vehicle initially stopped with three occupants including the driver, was found to contain the rifles and 30 cartridges hidden in a sack after the suspects fled under the pretext of using the restroom.
The police are actively working to track down the vehicle’s owner and apprehend the fleeing suspects to determine the source and intended use of the rifles.
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Commissioner Danmamman also reported the arrest of 23 protesters in the Tafa local government area on charges of joint acts, criminal trespass, arson, office breaking, theft of government property, and association with criminal elements.
He said that the suspects were arrested in relation to the nationwide protest which commenced on the 1st of August where they mobilized and stormed the Secretariat located along Abuja, Kaduna expressway, Sabon-Wuse, vandalized the Secretariat, partly set it ablaze, burnt two cars and vandalized two others vandalized.
“They further looted office valuables such as computers, refrigerators, file cabinets, office ceiling fans, office chairs, television sets, and office burglaries. The Police and other security agencies responded to the scene and a total of 23 suspects were arrested with different dangerous weapons, while others were dispersed from the scene and most of the looted items were recovered mostly from Kagarko in Kaduna State.”
The Commissioner of Police said that the suspects were aged between 10 years to 35 years office chairs, car side mirrors, extension wire, reflective jackets, ceiling fan, table calculator, laptop and generator, ceiling sheets, and office television were received from the suspects.
He said that all the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation stating that they will be arraigned in court for prosecution as soon as the ongoing investigation is concluded.
