Nigeria arrests gunrunner

Arrest could hit pirates and militants

Nigeria arrests ‘wanted gunrunner’

Chris Ewokor

Nigeria’s secret police says it has arrested a notorious gunrunner who has been on its wanted list for the last ten years.

Jonah Abbey is allegedly involved in the arms and ammunition trade and is believed to supply weapons to militant groups across Nigeria.

Mr Abbey, who was arrested alongside his driver Agyo Saviour, allegedly supplied arms to criminal groups – many of whom are located in the oil-rich Niger Delta, the south-east and parts of central Nigeria.

His arrest could be the first major link to explaining the sources of arms to militant groups as well as kidnappers and armed banditry syndicates in parts of the country.

Many people have been killed following a series of armed conflict in parts of the country.

The police recently linked the suspect to a movement of arms and ammunition from Konduga in Borno state where Islamist militant group Boko Haram is active, to Taraba state – an area prone to clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

According to the secret police, there are indications that Mr Abbey sources arms from Cameroon and parts of the north-east of Nigeria.

He has denied the allegations and is expected to be charged in court after police investigations.

Source: bbc.co.uk