The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the arrest of Taimako Mato, a suspected weapon-handling instructor for the Boko Haram terrorist group, along with four others, in connection with alleged gunrunning activities.
The other arrested suspects include John Danladi, Mohammed Munkail, Manasseh William, and Muhammadu Haddi.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 17, Muyiwa Adejobi, the NPF spokesperson, confirmed that the suspects are part of a gunrunning syndicate operating in Bauchi and Plateau states.
It read;
“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato ‘m’, John Danladi ‘m’, Mohammed Munkail ‘m’, Manasseh William ‘m’ and Muhammadu Haddi ‘m’, were arrested with 1 PKT machine gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95 rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition.
“The leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon handling instructor at a Boko Haram camp who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.”