Nasarawa State Police Command intercepted and arrested two arms dealers transporting high-grade firearms from Benue State to Ilorin, Kwara State, in an early hours operation on Wednesday.

The arrest coincided with reports that armed herdsmen responsible for attacks in Benue communities are relocating, possibly in response to heightened military offensives led by the Chief of Army Staff, who recently deployed to Benue to combat terror activities.

Speaking in a press statement released to journalists in Lafia on Wednesday, SP Ranham Nansel, the Command's Public Relations Officer, described the seizure as a major blow to illegal arms trafficking and terror networks in the region. The operation was conducted using actionable intelligence, underscoring law enforcement's proactive stance against cross-border criminal activities.

He said, "Two suspected gun runners travelling through Lafia in possession of a large cache of high-grade firearms and ammunition en route to Ilorin, Kwara State, from Benue State.

"Following the swift deployment of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, an intense and meticulous operation led to the arrest of the following suspects: Lawal Sani, 40 years old, a commercial bus driver from Makwalla area, Funtua LGA, Katsina State; and Dahiru Abdullahi, 75 years old, a cattle trader from Angwan Dosa, Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, known to operate within Keffi Cattle Market, Nasarawa State."

The items seized, as revealed by the Police, include: one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifles, one TAB 06 rifle, 1,096 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO calibre ammunition, four empty magazines, and a Toyota Hiace bus, grey in color, registration number AAA 926 XL.

According to the Police, the suspects confessed to being paid N500,000 to transport the weapons from Benue to Kwara State - a transaction that could have armed multiple criminal networks.

He said, "They have been taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation is currently underway to uncover the network behind this operation."

The Commissioner of Police further stressed that this operation is a resounding message to all criminal elements, noting that Nasarawa State is not a safe corridor for crime.

"We remain unshaken in our resolve to dismantle illegal arms networks and protect the lives of innocent Nigerians. We call on the public to stay alert and continue reporting suspicious activity through the official hotlines: 08112692680, 08032564469, 08036157659, 08037461715, 07032532391," he said, assuring continued, decisive action against threats to peace and security.