A 50-year-old cross border arms
dealer and his gang members have been arrested for smuggling guns into the
country for supply to militant groups.
The suspect, Andrew Moukwue, said
that he used to supply AK47 rifles to militants groups in different parts of
the country. According to him, he used to smuggle the guns from Mali. He also
confessed to have smuggled more than 100 guns into Nigeria.
One of those arrested for the gun
running racket, is a 400 level undergraduate of Economics, University of Port
Harcourt.
Moukwue said: “Yes, I bought those
guns from one Alhaji Amau in Ibadan. I’ve sold more than a 100. I buy one
for N350, 000 and sell for N400, 000. People came from Anambra, Bayelsa,
Rivers, Abia, Enugu and Lagos states to buy rifles from me. I have a store at
Onitsha Market where I used to keep the guns. I use the money I realise to
train my children. I did not know the business was illegal until I was arrested."
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, presenting the suspects to journalists at Police Headquarters, Ikeja, said that Moukwue, who is leader of the gang, was arrested at Onitsha, Anambra State, on information from an informant. He was later used as bait to catch other members of the gang.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, presenting the suspects to journalists at Police Headquarters, Ikeja, said that Moukwue, who is leader of the gang, was arrested at Onitsha, Anambra State, on information from an informant. He was later used as bait to catch other members of the gang.
Aderanti said: “After we arrested
Moukwue, he led detectives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) back to
Onitsha, where one Edwin was arrested and three AK47 rifles, with S/Nos
AB256591, VL420219 and Ax6217 recovered.”
Following information from the
suspects, SARS team stormed River State, where Onyeale and Reginald were
arrested. Four English pistols, two berretta pistols, with S/Nos 148847 and
682304 and two brownie pistols, with S/No 42649 and 1137366, were all recovered
from them.
Aderanti added: “Detectives have
embarked on combing Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia states, in order to fish out the
remaining gang members who went underground. We’ll get them.”
Stating his own side of the story, Edwin
said: “I was selling beverages before somebody introduced me to this business
last year. I used to sell each of the 14 guns I bought from Moukwue for N430,
000. Nomads and businessmen buy from me.”
The undergraduate, Reginald, denied
being a gun runner. He said: “I’m innocent of this crime! I was arrested by
SARS men at the home of my mentor. My mentor, Onyeali, used to assist me with
money for my education. I don’t know Onyeali’s full name. Yes, I’ve seen
Onyeali with a gun. It was a pump action gun. I also know that Onyeali used to
issue gun license to his numerous clients. These clients usually come in large
numbers. The truth however is that I’m not aware that Onyeali is a robber.”
Asked how he came to know Onyeali
who is presently in the United States, Reginald said that he met and became
friendly with Onyeali after they met in a cyber-cafe somewhere in Romuolo area
of Port-Harcourt.
Reginald said he assisted Onyeali to
type some documents. The documents had to do with Onyeali’s Master’s degree
theses at the University of Port-Harcourt.
He further revealed: “We later
discovered that we stay in the same neighbourhood. We started visiting each
other. It was during one of my visits to Onyeali’s residence that he told me
of his connection with some government officials. Onyeali said that these
officials used to assist him in procuring license for his numerous clients.”
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