The police command in Niger says it has arrested three suspects for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

This is contained in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Saturday in Minna.

Mr Abiodun said that on June 22, at about 12:30 a.m., credible intelligence led police operatives in the Lapai Division to three suspicious persons seen riding a motorcycle through Yawa village via Lapai.

He said that police operatives, in collaboration with vigilante, mobilised after the tip-off and trailed the suspects to a riverbank in the village bordering Niger and Kogi states, where they were arrested.

He said the suspects, aged 28, 25 and 20, respectively, were from Shanawa village in the Kotonkarfe area of Kogi.

Mr Abiodun said that during a search, while the suspects attempted to cross the river by canoe, police recovered one AK-47 rifle, 244 rounds of ammunition, three cutlasses and N28,000 from them.

He added that during interrogation, the suspects claimed the rifle and ammunition were given to them by one Majo, a leader of a group (Kungiyar) in Kogi, for self-defence.

He said the suspects also claimed they came to Niger from Kogi in search of their rustled cattle.

The spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing to identify other accomplices and recover additional weapons.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation. 

(NAN)