The Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) has uncovered a huge firearms syndicate, whose tentacles are spread across several states of the federation, and has the scion of a first class chief in Plateau state as its ring leader.

Operatives of the SSS confirmed to Sunday Trust in Abuja that Henry Pam, son of Victor Pam, Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau state Traditional Council, was arrested on Saturday, the 9th of December last year for illegal firearms trade.

But when contacted on Friday for the reaction of the Gbong Gwom's palace to the report, the Protocol and Press Officer to the paramount ruler, Sunday Y. Dung denied any such arrests, albeit contradicting himself almost immediately.

"It's not true; it's not everything you hear from people that is true," the palace spokesman said. When told that the SSS confirmed the arrests and sundry issues, Mr. Dung said: "Well, I don't know; I don't know anything about that."

Asked how Sunday Trust could reach the Gbong Gwom or his son for their reactions, the spokesman simply terminated the call, and later switched off his cellphone.

Henry, according to security sources, was arrested in his family home along Bukuru Road, Rayfield, Jos, by a team of SSS officials detailed from Abuja, following an intelligence report on his alleged illegal activities.

Upon a search conducted in the house, a large quantity of arms and ammunition were allegedly found. Among these were bullet-proof vests, three AK 47 rifles, Browne military pistols, sophisticated pump action rifles and other types of guns and assorted ammunition, which officials say were carted in two 'Ghana-must-go' bags.

The security operatives also allegedly recovered an expired firearms dealership licence, said to belong to the Gbong Gwom Jos, who is a retired inspector general of police.

Also recovered from the suspect by the SSS is a long list of high profile clients who are prominent personalities in Nasarawa, Bauchi, Plateau and other states in the Southeast.

Upon interrogation, Henry allegedly claimed that he and a relation of his run the business as directors in the company, which he said is chaired by his father.

The suspect, security sources said, was moved to Abuja on the 11th of December last year for further interrogation. This led to further arrests in Jos, of two policemen, one an inspector and the other a constable both attached to the armoury of the 'B' Division of the Plateau state Police Command in Bukuru, near the state capital.

However, when contacted on telephone on Friday for his comments, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibiyinka Kayode said he is not aware of the case. When told by our reporter that these arrests were confirmed by the SSS, the CP who has served in Plateau for about a year now, reiterated that: "Look, I said I'm not aware of that case you're talking about; I don't know what the SSS is investigating."

Also allegedly arrested was a clergyman, a Jos based Igbo businessman whose house was also searched and weapons were discovered. The businessman is said to have led the security operatives to the police inspector.

All the other suspects were also taken to Abuja for further investigation by the SSS.

However, after weeks in detention, Henry and the other suspects were allegedly released on bail, but asked to report regularly to the SSS headquarters in Abuja.

A senior official of the SSS who confirmed the arrests to Sunday Trust said, "investigation is still on and when concluded, the suspects would be charged to court."

The official who preferred anonymity said the investigation started "following the arrest of a Nasarawa state lawmaker with a pistol at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja."

The SSS operative disclosed further that the Service's findings show that, "Henry is like the ring leader of the syndicate", adding that "many people were arrested and we shall charge them to court once investigation is concluded".

It will be recalled that nearly 50,000 persons were killed between September, 2001, and May, 2004, in various sectarian crises in Plateau state. These were partly linked to the proliferation of illegal arms in various parts of the country especially the North central part of Nigeria.

In its 85-page report on the sectarian crises that engulfed Plateau state since 2001, and the reprisals in Kano in May, 2004, Human Rights Watch revealed that there were sporadic reports of police recovering or intercepting arms in various parts of the state in 2004.

The report also narrated how the then Administrator of Plateau state under the Emergency Rule, Major General Chris Alli tried to check the spread of illegal arms by encouraging citizens to surrender all firearms in their possession in exchange for some monetary rewards.