Nigeria Police Force operatives in Zamfara State have intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the border between Zamfara and Katsina states transporting hundreds of bullets concealed inside a motorcycle fuel tank.
The suspect, identified as Mannir Adam, 25, was arrested on Tuesday night, March 10, 2026, during a routine patrol along the Gusau–Funtua Federal Road at the Yankara checkpoint.
According to the police, the arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that the rider was transporting ammunition to criminal elements operating in Zamfara state.
A thorough search of the red Boxer motorcycle ridden by the suspect uncovered 800 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition used by AK-47 rifles, which had been carefully hidden inside the motorcycle’s fuel tank.
The statement by the police reads, “Be informed that on March 10, 2026, at about 19:50 hours, information was received from ASP Goma Ibrahim, Unit Commander Mine, attached to Yankara Point A, a border between Zamfara and Katsina states. He reported that on the same date at about 19:30 hours, the team intercepted one Mannir Adam, 25 years old, male, of Yankuzo Village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State,”
“The suspect was riding a red Boxer motorcycle from Unguwar Bawa in Saminaka Local Government Area of Kaduna State and was heading to Kucheri Village under Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.”
“During a search, 800 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 live ammunition were found concealed inside the motorcycle’s fuel tank,”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was travelling from Unguwar Bawa in Saminaka Local Government Area of Kaduna State and was heading to Kucheri Village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State when he was intercepted by the police patrol team.
Security sources believe the ammunition was likely meant for armed criminal groups terrorising parts of the state.
The suspect and the recovered ammunition have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation aimed at uncovering the wider criminal network behind the smuggling operation.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to dismantle criminal supply chains fueling insecurity in the state.
He also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to help safeguard lives and property.
Police authorities say efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the suspected ammunition trafficking ring.
Motorcycle riders must be put on check and their operations regulated as expressed in katsina Mirror Wednesday’s feature, “Our World on Wednesdays” to curb these criminal acts from thriving.
Collecting daily ticket money from them is insufficient, riders must be identified and licensed to ride or operate as commercial motorcyclist so that when they commit crimes they can be traced and punished accordingly.
