Crime & Court
Suspected fake soldier supplying drugs, ammunition, communication equipment to bandits nabbed
A suspected fake soldier, Hayatu Galadima, and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while conveying drugs, ammunition, and communication equipment to bandits in Kaduna State.
They were apprehended last week Friday by a patrol team of NDLEA officers along the Gwagwalada Expressway in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the agency disclosed in a statement on Sunday.
Items recovered from them included 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in a water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (walkie talkie); four army coloured head masks; and a wallet containing an army ID.
Also recovered from the suspects were three mobile phones, seven Nigerian Army pass letters, five handbags, and a sack containing personal belongings, among other items.
A photo released by the NDLEA shows the masks and other items recovered by operatives.
Galadima , who claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, said they were taking the items to Kaduna and Kano states.
The NDLEA, however said a preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North West and were possibly moving the ammunition and the two-way radios to bandits to aid their operations following the suspension of telecommunications services in parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States.
In a bid to further investigate the matter, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa has directed the FCT Command of the Agency – which made the arrest – to transfer the suspects to authorities of the Nigerian Army and another intelligence agency, which had earlier placed the two men on its watch list.