The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old man, Mustapha Mohammad, for the unlawful possession of a large cache of suspected explosive materials.
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Command’s Task Force on Illegal Mining following credible and actionable intelligence. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar.
According to the statement, the suspect was intercepted on January 27, 2026, at about 4:15 p.m. while driving a Toyota Corolla. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 954 pieces of suspected explosive materials concealed in polyethylene bags.
The police said preliminary investigations indicate that the recovered materials were suspected to have been intended for use by bandits as improvised explosive devices.
Abubakar stated that the suspect is currently in police custody, while the exhibits have been secured and formally handed over to the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit for safe custody and detailed analysis.
He added that investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the materials, as well as to identify and apprehend other accomplices linked to the crime. The Command assured that further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.
The arrest comes days after the Oyo State Police Command announced the interception of a truck conveying materials suspected to be explosive devices during a stop-and-search operation in Saki, Oyo State.
