………..29-year-old Nigerian living in Ghana has been arrested alongside two others over the alleged movement of explosives into Nigeria, with police recovering about 50kg of the materials in Badagry, Lagos State.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) have arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the movement and distribution of explosive materials from Ghana into Nigeria, recovering about 50 kilogrammes of the materials during an intelligence-led operation in Badagry, Lagos State.
The suspects were identified as 27-year-old Oluwashegun Godwin, 41-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi and 29-year-old Aminu Mohamed, a Nigerian national living in Ghana. According to the police, the three men allegedly played different roles in a supply chain through which explosive materials were brought into Nigeria and subsequently moved to criminal elements in parts of the North-East, North-Central and other parts of the country.
Speaking during the parade, ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, Commander of the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), said the operation was part of the squad’s proactive efforts to disrupt the supply chains that provide criminal groups with explosives and other materials used to carry out violent attacks.
He said the police were determined to move beyond responding to attacks after they occurred by identifying and dismantling the networks responsible for supplying weapons and explosives to bandits, terrorists and other non-state actors.
The commander said the first suspect, Oluwashegun Godwin, was arrested in Badagry, Lagos State, close to the Nigeria-Ghana border, while allegedly transporting the explosive materials into the country. Police said approximately 50 kilogrammes of explosives, packed in 10 bags, were recovered from him during the operation.
According to the police, Godwin was allegedly acting as a driver in the movement of the materials from Ghana into Nigeria. His arrest subsequently provided investigators with information that led to the identification and arrest of other individuals allegedly connected to the suspected supply network.
The investigation led to the arrest of Ibrahim Abdullahi, 41, in Lagos. Police identified Abdullahi as the alleged receiver of the explosive materials and said he was responsible for taking delivery of the consignments before arranging their movement to criminal elements in parts of the North-East and North-Central regions.
The third suspect, Aminu Mohamed, 29, was arrested in connection with the alleged importation of the explosives from Ghana. The STS commander said Mohamed is a Nigerian who resides in Ghana and allegedly served as the principal importer in the suspected operation.
According to the police, Mohamed allegedly concealed the explosive materials under the guise of transporting flour in order to move them across the border and into Nigeria without attracting attention. The commander said the suspect had allegedly explained during interrogation how the materials were brought into the country using the cover.
The police said the three suspects had confessed to their alleged roles in the operation, although investigations were still ongoing to establish the full extent of the network and identify other persons who may have been involved. The commander said the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
The STS said the operation was particularly significant because of the potential consequences of allowing explosive materials to reach bandits, terrorists and other criminal groups. The commander noted that criminal and non-state armed groups had increasingly used mines, bombs and other explosive devices in attacks, making the disruption of supply networks a critical part of the security response.
He said the police had therefore adopted a proactive approach aimed at cutting off criminal supply chains before the materials could be deployed. According to him, the objective was not merely to arrest those who carry out attacks but also to go after individuals involved in providing the weapons and explosives that make such attacks possible.
The commander attributed the success of the operation to intelligence gathering and cooperation among security agencies, stressing that no single security agency could effectively tackle the country’s security challenges in isolation. He acknowledged the support of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu and the cooperation of other security agencies in intelligence-led operations.
He said the latest arrests demonstrated the importance of being proactive in dealing with security threats, particularly when dealing with criminal networks operating across borders and different parts of the country.
In a separate case presented during the briefing, the STS also paraded Ihoma Chimaroke, also known as “Morocco,” who was allegedly involved in an attack in Eze, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, where security personnel came under fire.
The commander said Chimaroke was among the suspects allegedly involved in the attack and had subsequently fled the area in an attempt to evade arrest. He was eventually arrested in Obudu, Cross River State, after allegedly attempting to escape by jumping into a river.
According to the commander, the suspect entered the water in an effort to evade the police, but an operative followed him into the river and arrested him. He said the successful arrest demonstrated the level of training and determination of the operatives, who were prepared to pursue suspects beyond conventional land operations.
The commander said about nine suspects connected to the wider Eze incident had so far been arrested, while security operatives were still searching for two other key suspects believed to be connected to the attack. He assured the public that the police would continue to pursue those still at large until they were brought to justice.
Several firearms were also reportedly recovered in connection with the operation. The commander said the police recovered two AK-49 rifles and an AK-47 rifle, alongside other weapons and ammunition linked to the suspects.
The recovery, according to the police, formed part of the wider effort to dismantle the criminal network responsible for attacks in the area and restore confidence among residents.
The commander said the community had remained peaceful following the security operations, although efforts were continuing to locate the remaining suspects.
The STS commander reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to expanding intelligence-led operations across the country, stressing that the objective was to ensure that criminal elements were denied the opportunity to operate freely.
He said the Inspector-General of Police had directed that similar efforts be replicated across states and local government areas, with the police maintaining pressure on criminal networks and strengthening collaboration with other security agencies.
The commander also urged members of the public to provide information about suspicious activities, movements and individuals to the security agencies, emphasising the importance of community intelligence in preventing attacks and disrupting criminal operations.
He called on Nigerians to adopt the principle of “when you see something, say something,” assuring that information supplied by members of the public would assist security agencies in taking timely action against criminals.
The STS said the latest operations formed part of its broader mandate to dismantle criminal networks, cut off the supply of weapons and explosives to violent groups and pursue suspects involved in attacks across the country. The police assured Nigerians that operations would continue until the networks facilitating terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes were substantially disrupted.
