SSS arrests ‘notorious gunrunner’ Jonah Abbey, others

The State Security Service (SSS) said yesterday that some notorious arms dealers operating in states across central Nigeria have been arrested. A nationwide sweep that lasted 10 days until March 18 ended with the arrest of the alleged gunrunners who were on the wanted list of the secret police for several years after their supplies were linked to violent activities which included armed banditry and kidnapping, the SSS said.

On March 13, at about 12:20 p.m., SSS operatives arrested John Abbey, a suspected arms dealer, in Wukari, Taraba state. Abbey, also known as Jonah Idi, was arrested alongside his alleged driver, Agyo Saviour, a.k.a.: DanWase, the SSS said in a statement attributed to Tony Opuiyo.

The press release was circulated through PRNigeria, a pro-government public relations firm based in Abuja. Abbey had been “on the wanted list of the service for the last 10 years over arms and ammunition trade,” the statement said. He allegedly supplied arms to criminal groups in Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue,and Taraba, working closely with Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a.: Ghana, to terrorise residents in Benue state.

Akwaza has long been identifi ed as a major suspect in the ongoing attacks on Benue residents. Last month, Governor Samuel Ortom increased a bounty placed on him from N10 million in 2016 to N50 million.

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