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Gombe, Gombe State – By Prime Brief Media

The Gombe State Police Command has announced the recovery of 119 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 live ammunition, which were found concealed in a sack and hidden under a tree opposite a graveyard along Kalshingi Road in the Kwadon area of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area. The discovery was made on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, following credible information from a member of the public.

The Command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, detailed the operation in a statement to the press on Wednesday. According to Abdullahi, at about 10:30 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer for Kwadon received a tip-off about a suspicious white sack that had been abandoned opposite a graveyard. "Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer promptly led a team of detectives to the scene where the sack was recovered and searched," Abdullahi stated. In addition to the ammunition, the police also recovered two empty ammunition packets, two bottles containing moringa seeds, and one green bag from the sack. The police believe these items may have been part of a carefully planned concealment by criminal elements.

Following the initial discovery, police operatives carried out an extensive search of the surrounding bushes and areas. However, Abdullahi confirmed that no arrests were made at the scene. He assured the public that the Command has intensified monitoring and surveillance in the area while the investigation continues to identify and apprehend those connected with the concealed ammunition.

The Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Bello Yahaya, commended the public for the timely and useful information that led to the recovery. He urged residents to remain vigilant and to continue supporting security agencies with useful intelligence to enhance efforts at protecting lives and property. "This is a clear example of how the community and the police can work together to make our state safer. We will not relent in our efforts," the Commissioner noted.

The discovery underscores the persistent challenge of illegal arms and ammunition proliferation in Nigeria, which continues to fuel violent crimes, banditry, and insurgency. The recovery of a significant cache in a relatively peaceful state like Gombe also suggests that it may be a transit or storage route for criminals, a pattern security analysts have noted in other parts of the North-East and North-West.

This is the second notable arms-related incident in the North-West and North-East axis in recent weeks. On 10 May 2026, the Kano State Police Command arrested a suspected arms dealer and recovered three fabricated AK-47 rifles during a sting operation in the Dala Local Government Area. These continuous interceptions highlight both the scale of the problem and the increasing pressure security forces are placing on arms trafficking networks.

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