The Nigeria Police Force has intensified investigations into the tragic killing of an Arise Television anchor, closing in on a notorious network of gunrunners operating from Niger Republic believed to be behind the deadly attack. The latest development followed weeks of coordinated intelligence operations that led to the arrest and public parade of key suspects linked to the crime and to a wider cross-border arms trafficking ring.
According to police sources, the suspects were apprehended through joint efforts involving tactical units of the Force Intelligence Department and Interpol. Preliminary findings revealed that the group had been supplying illegal firearms and ammunition to several criminal gangs within Nigeria, including those operating in the North-West and North-Central regions. Investigators believe that one of the weapons supplied by the ring was used in the murder of the Arise TV journalist, who was reportedly ambushed while returning home from an assignment.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrests, said the operation marked a major breakthrough in the fight against transnational crime and illegal arms proliferation. He disclosed that the suspects are currently in custody and assisting with vital information that could lead to the arrest of other accomplices still at large. “We are working closely with our international partners to dismantle the network responsible for supplying dangerous weapons into Nigeria. No criminal will escape justice,” Adejobi assured.
The police spokesman also hinted that a number of recovered arms, including AK-47 rifles, pistols, and thousands of rounds of live ammunition, were traced back to the Niger Republic through illicit smuggling routes across Nigeria’s northern borders. He emphasized that the force remains determined to bring the perpetrators of the journalist’s killing to justice, describing the crime as a direct assault on press freedom and public safety.
Sources within the security apparatus revealed that the investigation has widened to include several suspects believed to have coordinated logistics for the gunrunners within Nigeria. These individuals, according to reports, provided safe houses and facilitated the movement of weapons into major cities. Some of the suspects reportedly confessed to receiving huge sums from criminal syndicates, including bandits and political thugs, in exchange for arms deliveries.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the police for the swift progress made in the case, urging authorities to ensure that justice is served. The union described the slain anchor as a dedicated professional whose death underscored the growing risks journalists face in the line of duty. “This investigation must not end with arrests; there must be convictions,” the NUJ said in a statement.
The late Arise TV anchor’s death has continued to spark outrage across the media industry and beyond, with calls for improved protection for journalists and tighter border control to stem the inflow of illegal weapons. As the police deepen their manhunt for remaining suspects, Nigerians await justice for a crime that has once again highlighted the deadly nexus between cross-border gunrunning and rising insecurity in the country.
