Soldiers Storm Suspected Gun Runner’s Home In Kaduna, Three Months After Court Freed Him

Nuhu Mohammed Marafa and son paraded for gun-running last year

By SaharaReporters, New York

About three months after he was set free by a Kaduna court following the discovery of weapons and military uniforms, and being linked by the Nigeria Army with terrorism activities, a combined team of security operatives in Kaduna today stormed the home of Comrade Nuhu Mohammed and over 100 houses in his neighborhood.
A senior official of the State Security Service, speaking on condition of anonymity, told SaharaReporters that the team stormed the Tirkania area following a tip-off, but that findings will not be revealed until consultations and further investigations in other Kaduna locations are completed.
The source said that while there were some facts in the tip received, the service will only shed more light at the end of its investigations.
The source further added that Comrade Mohammed, alias Babawo, who was once the leader of the Petrol Tankers union, is presently campaigning to be elected again and may be indulging in several security breaches in the area.
It would be recalled that Mohammed was first arrested along with his son last year in January 2012, after which Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Edun, then assistant director of public relations of the First Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, stated as follows:
“The activities for which Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa attracted the attention of the Nigerian Army bordered on issues of national security.
Specifically, the army claimed it has to do with gun-running and suspected connection with and support for a terrorist group. After extensive surveillance, troops of 1 Division of Nigerian Army during the night of 13/14 January 2011, conducted a cordon-and-search operation on the compound of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa, located at Tirkania, opposite IBBL Kaduna. Before troops could gain entry into the compound, there was a gunshot fired at the soldiers from the compound. It was later revealed that the shot was fired allegedly by Yusuf Nuhu Mohammed, the son of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa. Yusuf escaped with the weapon by scaling the perimeter wall of the compound.”
The Nigerian Army gave a list of the following weapons reportedly found in their search of Mr. Marafa’s home during his last arrest:
9 mm ammunition—quantity 9
6 mm ammunition—quantity 5
7.62 ammunition (special) ammunition—quantity 1
7.62 mm (NATO) ammunition—quantity 11
Barrel Gun Cartridges—quantity 17
Pump Action Gun—quantity 1
Double Edged Special Axes—quantity 2
Machetes—quantity 3
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb in a Mirinda bottle, which if ignited could cause extensive damage.
Bows (metal)—quantity 2
Long Clubs (wood)—quantity 3.
Black Army Belt—quantity 1
Camouflage Belt—quantity 1
Two dog tags belonging to Nigerian Army D2004/1/55/1899 S Adamu and US Army 84637857 Rambo RH.
Nigerian Army camouflage trousers.
Two GSM Phones
10 pairs of vehicle plate numbers and 3 single vehicle plate numbers.
One whistle
1 X passport each of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa (aka Babawo) and his son Mohammed Yusuf Nuhu.
A novel titled The Last Duty by Isidore Okpewho.
1 driver’s license
1 group photograph
2 voters cards
7 GSM Sim Packs
1 Computer bag containing GSM phone accessories.