Police authorities in Gombe State have arrested a 27-year-old man, Joseph Babari, who was reportedly returning from a violent mission in Plateau State for which he had been allegedly hired.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Gombe State Police Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi.
Babari was intercepted by a police patrol team around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday during a stop-and-search operation conducted by officers from the Pero-Chonge Division in Shongom Local Government Area, near the border with Taraba State.
According to the police, Babari confessed that he had been contracted by an individual named Isah—whose last name remains unknown—to engage in violent activities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. He said he was paid ₦180,000 for a two-month operation and was returning to Taraba State when apprehended.
Items recovered from the suspect included a locally made automatic rifle, eight rounds of live ammunition, a black vest, and various charms believed to be for protection.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect said he was traveling from Maikatako in Plateau State’s Bokkos LGA to Karim Lamido in Taraba,” DSP Abdullahi stated. “Further inquiries confirmed that he had been involved in violent engagements for a fee.”
He added that the suspect remains in custody while investigations continue to uncover the origin of the weapon and identify other individuals linked to the case.
The police reassured the public of their commitment to ensuring security across the state and urged residents to report any suspicious movements or behavior to the nearest security post.
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