One former Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) official was caught selling sophisticated weaponry to bandits operating in the Abuja-Kaduna jungles by the Nigeria Police Force’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command.
The officer who was fired has not been identified, but Mustafa Mohammed, the officer in charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, told the media about his detention on Wednesday, March 5.
Mohammed claimed that a police operation led by intelligence was responsible for the suspect’s capture.
He added that the transfer of these weapons to criminal organizations that would have used them for destructive purposes was successfully prevented by this operation.
“The command was able to intercept the firearms from the dismissed immigration officer, who was attempting to deliver them to bandits causing unrest in the Abuja-Kaduna area,” the security officer added, citing actionable intelligence. The weapons were successfully intercepted during the delivery attempt since this intelligence was received in a timely manner.
One of the guns confiscated was a Scorpion CZ EVO3, a highly advanced, fully automatic pistol with an integrated silencer.
The Scorpion series’ most recent model is the 2022 model. It can be operated in burst, automated, or single mode. It is an extremely advanced weapon, and depending on the configuration, its magazine can contain 20 to 30 rounds. 52 rounds of ammunition were also found, which might have been extremely dangerous if they had gotten into the hands of criminals, Mohammed disclosed.
According to FCT Commissioner of Police Tunji Disu, who provided additional information on recent force operations, 300 individuals were taken into custody between January and February 28, 2025.
According to Disu, “The FCT Police Command has stepped up its operations in an effort to rid the Federal Capital Territory of criminal elements and crime, conducting a series of high-impact raids from January 1st to February 28th, 2025.”
A substantial stockpile of weapons, ammunition, and illegal drugs has been recovered as a result of these swift, intelligence-driven, and tactically precise efforts, which have also resulted in the arrest of 300 suspects. A total of 59 armed robbers were taken into custody.
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Ten informants and kidnappers were detained in all. Nine armed robbers were eliminated in all. Seven kidnappers in all were neutralized. There were sixteen cultists detained in all.
Additionally, he stated that specific clearing and raid operations were carried out at known criminal hiding places.
“The Command showed a resolute dedication to people’ protection by sending out specialist tactical teams to attack known criminal hideouts and black spots throughout the FCT. These operations encompassed high-risk regions such as Jikwoyi, Karimo, Maitama, Karu, Gwarinpa, and Dei-Dei.
“In addition, we have identified and will be conducting ongoing surveillance and raids on abandoned buildings throughout the city that are often utilized as bases for planning illegal activities and as hideouts,” Disu continued.
Below are a some items that were recovered:
