A suspected ammunition supplier, Mr Onyegabueze Okpara, has disclosed that he has been supplying ammunitions to armed robbers and other criminals since the past 20 years.
He disclosed this in a confessional statement he made to criminal investigators attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command.
While briefing journalists in Abuja, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Abubakar Bello, revealed that Mr Okpara who disguises as a bicycle spare-parts dealer was arrested at Kwaita market in possession of the exhibits.
“In his statement, he narrated that he started the illicit deal since 1997 and that he sells a pack containing 25 pieces of live cartridge for N12,000, while single cartridge goes for N500.
“He further confessed that he gets his supply from Onitsha,” the CP said.
388 live and 12 caliber catridges where recovered from the suspect.
Bello further disclosed that his command uncovered and raided an illegal firearm fabricating factory located around Shenagu village near Zuba.
“During a raid on the factory, 3 suspects were arrested including the owner of the factory, Philip John the supplier of ammunitions, Mr Onyegabueze Okpara and the distributor of the arms, Joseph Bulus.
“During interrogation, Philip John stated that he has been doing the illicit business for 17 years and confessed that he sells fabricated single-barrel guns to his clients at N20,000 each while Dane gun is sold for N10,000.
“He also services and repairs malfunctioning guns brought to him by his clients,” the CP noted.
The police operatives also arrested one, Joseph Bulus, who, the CP said, is the major link that connects the principal suspect with potential buyers of the fabricated firearms, at Zuba.
In a related development, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), attached to the FCT command, have arrested an armed robbery suspect- Umar Adamu, at the point of operation.
This, according to CP Bello, followed a distress call put forward informing the police of the armed robbery attack which was going on at the Apo round-about.
“The suspects robbed and dispossessed two of their victims of the sum of N120,000. Three of his cohorts were later arrested by the Police detectives and the pistol used for the operation was recovered in the room of the gang leader (Hashimu Isiaka) located at Kuruduma village.