Three Lebanese suspected to be in charge of the large cache of arms uncovered in Kano State have been arrested by the Joint Security Task Force (JTF).
According to Brig.-Gen. Iliyasu Abba, Brigade Commander, 3rd Brigade, Nigerian Army, one of the three suspects was arrested on Tuesday, another was arrested in Abuja while the third was arrested earlier on 16th May at Aminu Kano International Airport, Abuja en route to Lebanon.
“The one arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport had a sum of $60,000 in his possession.” Abba said, adding that a certain Abdullahi Hassan Tahir Padalla, owner of the house where one of the suspects was holing up, is still at large.
Weapons retrieved during the bust-up operation include 17 kalashnikovs, 44 magazines, four land mines, 12 RPG bombs, 14 RPG charger and 11 66 mm anti-tanks weapons. In addition, one SMG magazine, one pistol and magazine, 11, 433 rounds of 7.26 mm special, 76 hand grenade, rocket propelled guns, 122 calibre artillery and anti-mines weapons were recovered.
“What you see here are weapons of mass destruction in terms of our situation here right now in Nigerian,” Abba added. “If these things have been brought out only, God knows the type of destruction they will cause to innocent persons in the state or in the country.”
Kano State Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Bassey Ettang revealed that the three suspects are linked to the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon, and have for long been using the bunker in the house to stockpile arms and ammunition.
Military spokesperson in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha confirmed that the suspects had all confessed to membership of Hezbollah.
“The search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered,” Captain Iweha said. “All those arrested have confessed to have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training.”
The bomb depot was discovered after a search operation conducted by the combined team of the JTF, Nigerian Army, and the SSS in Kano. After searching the building, located at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road and allegedly belonging to Fadlalla, they found an underground bunker in the master’s bed room storing a large quantity of assorted weapons.
