Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Gombe State Police Command has uncovered a cache of 119 rounds of 7.62mm AK‑47 live ammunition, which was hidden in a sack near a graveyard in the Kwadon community of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area. The discovery, described by police authorities as a significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal arms trafficking, followed a credible tip‑off received by the Kwadon Divisional Police Officer on the morning of May 19, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Gombe State Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the recovery was made around 10:30 am that Tuesday. The information indicated that a suspicious white sack had been concealed under a tree opposite a graveyard along Kalshingi Road. “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 said. Inside the sack, officers found 119 rounds of AK‑47 live ammunition, two empty ammunition packets, two bottles containing moringa seeds, and one green bag of unknown purpose.
After the discovery, operatives immediately combed the nearby bushes and adjoining areas in search of suspects, but no one was arrested at the scene. The police spokesperson noted that surveillance and patrols in the area had been intensified, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend those responsible for concealing the potentially deadly cache. “The Command has intensified monitoring and surveillance in the area while investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend those connected with the concealed ammunition,” Abdullahi stated.
The Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Bello Yahaya, commended members of the public for providing the timely intelligence that made the recovery possible. He urged residents to remain vigilant and to continue sharing useful information with security agencies to enhance efforts to protect lives and property across the state. “We urge citizens to keep providing security agencies with useful intelligence to enhance our efforts to protect lives and property across the state,” the commissioner said in the statement.
The incident highlights the persistent challenge of illegal weapons trafficking in Nigeria, even as authorities ramp up efforts to disarm non‑state actors. While the recovery of 119 bullets might seem modest in isolation, a single round of AK‑47 ammunition—costing as little as ₦300‑₦500 on the black market—can be used in deadly attacks, armed robberies, or even to facilitate a kidnapping. The discovery near a cemetery also raises concerns that such quiet, low‑traffic areas are being used as temporary storage depots for weapons meant for later distribution.
This recovery follows a trend of similar ammunition seizures across northern Nigeria in recent weeks. On May 10, 2026, the Kano State Police Command arrested a suspected arms dealer and recovered three fabricated AK‑47 rifles, along with other weapons, during a sting operation in Dala Local Government Area. While the Kano operation focused on manufacturing, the Gombe seizure points to the network that moves and hides ammunition before it reaches the end‑users.
Security analysts in Gombe have described the recovery as a welcome but sobering reminder of the scale of illegal weaponry still circulating in the region. “Each ammunition round you take out of the black market is a potential murder that may be prevented,” a retired police officer told local reporters. The fact that the bullets were stored in a white sack, a common and easily overlooked container, suggests a deliberate effort to blend in with everyday refuse. However, the presence of empty ammunition packets alongside the live rounds offers investigators a potential forensic lead, as the packaging could contain serial numbers or manufacturing details that point to the original source.
The Green Bag and Moringa Seed bottles recovered from the same location further complicate the picture. While Moringa seeds are widely used in traditional medicine and as a nutritional supplement, the presence of two bottles of seeds in a weapons cache is highly unusual. Investigators are exploring whether the seeds served as a cover story or a decoy, meant to mislead anyone who might accidentally stumble upon the hidden sack.
Local residents have reacted with a mixture of relief and concern. Many told reporters that the area around the cemetery is generally peaceful and that they were unaware of any criminal activity there. However, the discovery has also fuelled speculation about whether the ammunition was intended for bandits operating in the borderlands between Gombe and neighbouring states, where kidnapping for ransom and cattle rustling have become increasingly common. The state police command has not yet linked the ammunition to any specific criminal network, but the recovery comes at a time when Gombe and its neighbours are on high alert following a series of deadly bandit attacks.
As the investigation unfolds, the police have appealed to the public to report any suspicious movements or activities, particularly in isolated or neglected areas such as cemeteries, abandoned buildings and unlit roadways. The use of such locations to stash weapons is not new; in November 2025, police in Borno State discovered a similar hidden cache of ammunition in a cemetery in the Konduga area, underscoring the pattern of using graveyards as temporary arms‑storage sites.
For now, the 119 rounds of ammunition remain in police custody, while forensic teams work to trace their origins. “This seizure has dealt a blow to the illicit arms trade in this part of the state,” a police source said. “We are following all leads, and we will not stop until those who hid these bullets are brought to justice.”
The Gombe State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and security, and it has called on residents to continue playing a proactive role in community safety. The recovery near a graveyard is a reminder that threats often lie where they are least expected—and that a single tip‑off can stop dangerous weapons from ever reaching the hands of those who would use them.
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