Umuahia — DETECTIVES from Federal Anti Robbery Squad (FARS), Adeniji Adele, Lagos have intercepted truck load of arms and ammunition worth over N12 million.

Also four persons who allegedly imported the ammunition have been arrested. They are being detained by FARS at Adeniji Adele.

Daily Champion gathered that the over 100,000 rounds of ammunition were en route to Onitsha in Anambra State before policemen, acting on a tip off, intercepted a Leyland truck with registration XD749AAA conveying the lethal AA and BB live cartridges at Shaki, a boarder town between Oyo and Benin Republic.

Displaying the ammunition before newsmen at Adeniji Adele, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Investigations, Mr. Isreal Ajao said a notorious gun dealer, Mr. Martins Anokwara, a native of Uga in Anambra state allegedly imported the ammunition from an undisclosed neighbouring country. He gave the names of other members of the syndicates as Kolawale Moshhod, Rafiu Akanji and Rafiu Isola.

The DIG said the suspects concealed the ammunition inside 32 wielded metal drums and cartons of various sizes, packaged, covered and disguised under sacks containing charcoal bags in the upper layer of the truck.

Ajao, a former commissioner of police in Lagos said luck ran out of the suspects when policemen who hitherto laid ambush at the border town of Shaki confronted them.

He said: "The effort to rid the society of dangerous weapons as well as arms and ammunition into the country paid off last week through the intelligence led strategy encouraged by the FARS, displayed gallantry by arresting four men who masterminded the importation of 100.000 cat ridges.

"Policemen who laid ambush for them at Ayo area of Shaki flagged down the driver, Raifu Akanji and his motor boy, Rafiu Isola were both apprehended. They led police to where the dealer was and he was arrested. Kolawale escaped during operation but was later nabbed."

He said the truck and the suspects were later brought to Lagos for further verification. When the truck was searched, a serviceable Bereta pistol with no 852665 with 55 rounds of ammunition was also discovered in a black hand bag concealed in one of the metal drums."

Akao added that the men of FARS deployed to Idiroko border also arrested car snatchers who were attempting to cross alleged stolen cars from Nigeria to Republic of Benin.

Meanwhile, the police in Abia have paraded 78 suspected criminals including kidnappers, cultist and robbers who have been terrorizing residents.

The command also said it recovered 41 arms of various sizes and 672 live ammunition between January and March this year.

Parading the suspects yesterday in Umuahia, Abia State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Jonathan Johnson reiterated the readiness of his men to rid the state of criminal elements and warned them to either turn a new leaf or ready to face the music.

Among those paraded was Chimere Chukwu from Amoikwe Item in Bende LGA of the state, a suspected member of the notorious robbery gang that raided residents of 16 Udi Street, Aba and made away with valuables including unspecified amount of cash, laptop, camcorder camera, plasma television and jewelry.

While the suspect was picked up by the police in his hide out, other members of his gang lower are still at large.

He confessed to the crime and said it was the devil who deceived him.

Paraded also was one Nwaogu arrested at Umunla Isialangwa with 119 cartridges. He was believed to be aiding and abetting robbers and kidnappers in the area.

Others include Ebiziem Uloma, a 300 level student of Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu who was nabbed at a burial ceremony in Abriba with stainless pistol and six rounds of ammunition.

Investigations into the matter are still on according to a police source, while the suspect will soon appear in court.

Paraded also was one Obioma Ogbuti, from Eziama Ntigha in Isialangwa North L.G.A suspected to be aiding and abetting kidnapping activities in the area.

Acting on a tip off, operatives from the command's Anti-kidnapping Squad (ATS) in collaboration with local vigilante group stormed his residence and recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition including 75 pellets and one locally-made double barrel pistol.

The police also on February 28 saved travelers at Aba main Park from agonies in the hands of men of the underworld following the recovery of arms and ammunition in the luggage of some suspected passages during a random search operation.

Items recovered include one locally made single barrel short gun; three locally-made revolver short guns and two locally made guns.

The police also paraded a suspected student cultist, one Chizara Orji, a first year Biology student of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) arrested at Ugba junction Uturu while allegedly engaging in cult activities.

A locally made pistol with no cartridge was recovered from him. He confessed he got the gun after his initiation from one Efizi also a member of the cult.