PHOTOS: Police busts armed robbery, gun dealing syndicate terrorising Benue, Taraba

An alleged gun dealer and his gang members have been arrested in the Benue-Taraba axis of the country, police reveal.

The law enforcement say the suspected criminals – including alleged robbers and kidnappers – were rounded up in its bid to end incessant killing of innocent people in the Middle Belt states of Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa.

Eleven suspected criminals were arrested with a total of ten AK 47 rifles and two Beretta pistols recovered.

One Miracle Emmanuel, a 27 year-old alleged gun dealer from Anambra, was arrested with two of his gang members in Taraba. Police recovered five Ak-47 rifles, along with other ammunition from them.

Police say Emmanuel and his gang have confessed to being responsible for supply of AK47 rifles and other firearms and ammunition to armed bandits, militias, and criminal herdsmen/farmers in Benue and Taraba States.

Another suspect, 36-year-old Morris Ashwe was arrested in Benue. Ashwe was accused of supplying arms to a wanted criminal kingpin, one Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Ghana.

Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood said five AK 47 rifles, 238 AK47 bullets, 40 Smoke Grenade Canisters and seventy-nine LAR Rifle bullets were recovered from Ashwe.

Other gun dealing suspects in Taraba were identified as 43-year-old Kabiru Idris and Husseini Safiyanu.

Moshood also identified a seven-man robbery and kidnapping gang arrested in Benue as 28-year-old Emmanuel Ushehemba Kwembe, 30-year-old Achir Gabriel, 28-year-old Sekad Uver, and 22-year-old Ordure Fada.

Other suspects arrested in Benue were Stephen Jirgba 18; Peter Lorham, 24; and Lorhemen Akwambe 35.