The Federal Government has confisicated 1500 double barrel guns illegally imported by the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari in order to arm vigilante groups in the state.
Sources have revealed that the Federal Government ordered the seizure of the guns based on the alleged contravention of firearms laws of the land.
The governor is said to harbour feelings of betrayal against the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, also an indigene of the state due to a soft approval given the governor by the IG which is now being trampled upon.
Sources revealed that there was an armed robbery crisis in the state in 2012, during which the governor sought and clinched approval from the state police commissioner on the formulation of a vigilante group. It is said to have been agreed that the group would be armed at which time, the governor then decided to import double-barrel guns.
A source said: “The governor ordered for 1,500 double-barrelled guns through a dealer in Kano who got supplies from Ukraine.’
However the federal government has ordered the repatriation of the guns to Abuja because there was no executive approval to import the arms.
Sources disclosed that the importation was executed to bypass the approval of the presidency because of the belief that individuals can buy double-barrel guns and apply for licence from police.
The source said, “Due to the brouhaha and outrage the issue generated and in order to avoid a presidential hammer, the police had to follow the rules and now the IG had ordered that the guns be taken to the Force Headquarters. They were being taken to Abuja right now.”