Oyo State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against illegal arms trafficking, with the arrest of two suspected international ammunition dealers and the recovery of 2,625 cartridges.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state,, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan.
Olayinka said the operation was part of its “sustained crackdown on the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition, a menace directly linked to violent crimes within the State and beyond.”
According to him, operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Unit, Saki Operation Base, acted on “credible and actionable intelligence” to carry out a coordinated, intelligence-led operation.
He said te suspects, identified as Isiaka Dare, 35, and Taiwo Ayodabo, 33, both from Tede, were arrested at Budo Mosalasi in Saki, Oyo State.
Police investigations revealed that the duo allegedly operated across international borders, smuggling ammunition from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria through illegal routes.
“Their criminal enterprise involves the clandestine importation and distribution of prohibited ammunition to unauthorized individuals within the country,” he said, adding that such weapons are often used for “armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.”
During the operation, officers recovered 105 packets of pump-action cartridges hidden inside four jerry cans. Each packet contained 25 rounds, bringing the total to 2,625 cartridges.
Two unregistered motorcycles, believed to have been used for transporting the ammunition, were also seized.
Police spokesman disclosed that the suspects have confessed to the offence and are “currently assisting investigators in unravelling the wider transnational network and identifying other accomplices involved in the illicit trade.”
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, ordered that the suspects be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.
He commended the officers involved, describing the operation as professional and precise.
“Proactive policing and actionable intelligence remain critical tools in dismantling organised criminal networks,” the Commissioner stated.
He also appreciated members of the public for providing useful information that led to the arrest, stressing that “community partnership remains indispensable in the fight against violent crime.”
The Commissioner further reassured residents that the Command “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the State does not serve as a safe haven for crime and criminality.”
He urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with timely information as efforts intensify to curb the spread of illegal arms.
