The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on illegal arms and criminal networks in Adamawa and Taraba States, following the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and live ammunition by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.
The operation, according to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), followed credible intelligence received on March 5, 2026, regarding the alleged possession of AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons by suspected members of a criminal network operating across the two states.
Acting on the intelligence, SWAT operatives launched discreet, intelligence-led investigations and surveillance operations aimed at identifying members of the suspected network and tracing the sources of the illegal firearms.
The operation yielded results on August 25, 2026, when operatives arrested Alhaji Gayi Ibrahim Yahaya, a 40-year-old resident of Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle bearing breech number S-47275 and three rounds of live ammunition.
The police said the suspect is currently assisting investigators with useful information as efforts intensify to establish the circumstances surrounding his possession of the firearm and ammunition and identify other individuals allegedly connected to the criminal network.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal networks, recovering illegal arms and ammunition, and protecting lives and property across the country.
The Force also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, stressing that actionable intelligence remains critical to successful intelligence-led policing and the fight against violent crime.
The police assured that further developments would be communicated to the public as the investigation progresses.