Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), have arrested a suspected gunrunner and his wife in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of the operation, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Wednesday in Jos. He said the operation was carried out to strengthen security across Plateau, Kaduna, and Bauchi states.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), JTF-OPEP is a special task force responsible for maintaining peace and order in these areas.
Zhakom explained that the two suspects, aged 40 and 18, were arrested on October 8 during a joint operation with troops from Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY).
“In a coordinated operation to enhance security across the Joint Operations Area, troops of JTF OPEP, in collaboration with OPFY, tracked and apprehended two notorious gunrunners,” he said.
He added that the suspects were caught at a snap checkpoint set up by the joint troops on the outskirts of Saminaka in Lere LGA.
“The operation, prompted by actionable intelligence from an intelligence agency in Plateau, led to the recovery of 1,207 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition,” Zhakom stated.
He noted that the ammunition was believed to be headed to armed groups operating in the North West region of Nigeria.
The suspects and all recovered items are now in military custody for further investigation, he added.