The military authority in Birnin Kebbi has succeeded in quelling attempt to smuggle arms into the north by arresting a fuel tanker laden with arms.Commanding Officer, in charge of the first Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Sunday Ilori said the tanker bearing the logo of Mobil Oil, was intercepted on Thursday July 11 during a joint operation with men of the State Security Service (SSS).
According to him, items recovered from the fuel compartment include three AK 47 Riffles, one RPG-2, nine AK 47 magazines, two bombs, three RPG chargers and 790 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions.
“The arrest and confiscation of arms was sequel to the on-going operations of the 1 Battalion of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Sokoto, against insurgency and insurgent activities within its area of responsibilities. The efforts resulted in the arrest of one suspect, arms and ammunition and a petrol tanker on July 11, 2013 after a combined operation between the 1 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and the State Security Services,” Ilori explained.
He said that two suspects escaped when the vehicle was intercepted. He said the authority is investigating the source of the arms. He said that one of the suspects claimed that he was paid N500, 000 to deliver the items to Sokoto.
