Security Operatives Arrest Man With 800 Rounds of AK-47 in Motorcycle Tank
By Momodu Favour
Security operatives in Zamfara State have arrested a 25-year-old man allegedly transporting a large cache of ammunition concealed inside the fuel tank of a motorcycle.
The suspect, identified as Mannir Adam, was intercepted at about 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday along the Gusau–Funtua highway during a routine security check.
Security sources said Adam, a resident of Yankuzo village in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, was apprehended at a security checkpoint in Yankara while riding a red Boxer motorcycle.
According to the sources, operatives became suspicious during routine checks and conducted a thorough search of the motorcycle. The search led to the discovery of about 800 rounds of AK-47 ammunition carefully concealed inside the fuel tank of the motorcycle, allegedly in a bid to evade detection at security checkpoints.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody while the ammunition was recovered as exhibits.
Counter-insurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, which focuses on security developments in the Lake Chad region, reported that the arrest followed intensified surveillance along major highways in the state due to the persistent movement of illegal arms and ammunition linked to banditry and other criminal activities.
Security sources said preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the ammunition and its intended destination.
Authorities are also working to establish whether the suspect is linked to bandit groups or other criminal networks operating in parts of Zamfara and neighbouring states.
Zamfara State has been one of the states most affected by banditry, kidnapping and illegal arms trafficking in recent years, with security agencies stepping up operations to curb the activities of armed groups.
Officials noted that the arrest highlights the importance of vigilance at security checkpoints and ongoing intelligence-driven operations aimed at disrupting the supply of weapons and ammunition to criminal elements.
The suspect is expected to be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further interrogation and possible prosecution as investigations continue.
