The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a suspect in possession of 174 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition along the Toto–Abaji Road, describing the development as a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb illegal arms trafficking in the state.
Police operatives attached to the Toto Division intercepted the suspect during a routine patrol on Sunday, June 22, 2026.
The suspect, identified as Abubakar Abdullahi, was searched on the spot, leading to the recovery of 174 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition allegedly concealed on his person.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the suspect was unable to provide any credible explanation regarding the source, ownership or intended destination of the ammunition.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect could not provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the source, ownership, or intended destination of the ammunition,” SP Nansel said.
He added that investigators have commenced efforts to uncover the wider criminal network behind the movement of the ammunition and to apprehend other individuals linked to the case.
Nansel said the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality, noting that the proliferation of illegal arms remains a key driver of violent crime and insecurity in the state.
“There will be no safe haven for criminals in Nasarawa State. We are determined to identify, track, and bring every offender to justice,” he quoted the Commissioner as saying.
The Commissioner said the Command has intensified intelligence-led policing, surveillance operations and strategic deployments across the state, warning criminal elements to either renounce their activities or face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging them to remain law-abiding and go about their lawful activities without fear.
The Command also called on members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information to aid ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal networks.
It reaffirmed its resolve to deploy all lawful means necessary to ensure the safety and security of residents across Nasarawa State.
