The Kaduna State Police Command on Monday paraded its armament officer and two gun runners arrested during an alleged attempt to steal firearms from the command’s armoury.

The State Commissioner of Police, Umar Ambursa, while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Kaduna, said at about 11:30 p.m on October 20, the Command’s armament officer, Nanbol Audu, a deputy superintendent of police, came to the armoury with two unknown persons in a private vehicle to steal arms and ammunition.

The car was discreetly parked behind the armoury as the officer and the two other suspects loaded arms into it.

He said police officers on guard suspected foul play and immediately stopped the vehicle from leaving the premises.

“Upon interrogation, the State Armament Officer could not give satisfactory account of his action which led to his arrest and the two other occupants of the vehicle, one Zingkur Joseph of Trade Centre Jos, and Samuel Adamu Of Kuru Jos-South Local Government Area of Plateau State, respectively,” the police commissioner said.

“During a search at the spot, 11 G3 Rifles already concealed under the vehicle’s seat were recovered.”

Mr. Ambursa added that further investigation revealed that one of the two civilian suspects is a blacksmith who specializes in manufacturing locally made firearms.

“The two suspects came from Jos, Plateau State, on arrangement to purchase the said firearms from the armament officer at the cost of N400,000,” the commissioner said.

Other exhibits recovered from the suspects are N400,000 cash, and a yellow Mercedes Benz 230-E, with registration number LGT 588 RJ, used in concealing the arms.