Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 10 individuals suspected of supplying weapons to bandits operating in the state. The arrests were made in separate intelligence-led operations conducted in Ikara, Kubau and Furana areas between May 1 and May 5, 2026. A total of eight locally fabricated firearms were recovered, including six AK-47 rifles and two pistols, along with 7.5mm ammunition.
DSP Mansir Hassan, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the operation in a statement released on Friday in Kaduna. The initial investigation began after a case of criminal conspiracy and illegal arms dealing was transferred from Ikara Divisional Headquarters on May 1. Police identified five suspects as Haruna Dauda, Meshack John, Iliya Dangi, Joshua Maigida and Audu Musa.
They allegedly specialised in selling arms to bandits in Ikara and nearby communities. According to police, the suspects admitted to supplying weapons to previously arrested individuals: Timothy Yohana, Ado Mato and Hamisu Yalwa, all from Ikara. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit recovered four fabricated AK-47s and two pistols during the operation.
On May 5, two more suspects, Yunusa Yahaya, 40, and Mustapha Yahaya, 30, both from Kuraye Village in Kubau Local Government Area, were arrested for possessing a locally made AK-47 and ammunition. A subsequent raid at the residence of Mathew Tanko in Gidan Jina, Furana Village, led to the recovery of another fabricated AK-47 rifle. Tanko is currently at large.
State Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad warned against involvement in illegal firearm activities. "The command remains resolute in identifying, tracking and prosecuting all those connected to criminal networks across the state," he said. He said police, alongside other security agencies, would continue targeted operations to protect lives and property.
The police say suspects supplied weapons to bandits, yet one suspect, Mathew Tanko, remains at large despite a raid on his home. If the network included past suspects and active suppliers, it raises questions about how long the operation ran unchecked. The recovery of multiple AK-47s from private homes suggests gaps in local monitoring. Residents in Ikara and Kubau may now question how safe they truly are.
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