The Kaduna State Police Command has opened an intensive search for unidentified passengers who allegedly hurled a sack loaded with live ammunition from a moving vehicle in Zaria.
According to the Command, officers recovered roughly 210 rounds of 7.56mm ammunition after residents reported that the occupants of a black Volkswagen Golf flung a sack onto the roadside along the Dogo Itace axis in Samaru.
The alert triggered a rapid response from the Samaru Divisional Police Officer and his patrol team, who arrived to find the bag abandoned.
Security sources said the ammunition was neatly packed, suggesting deliberate transport rather than accidental loss.
“What we saw at that spot was not random,” a senior officer familiar with the recovery said. “Someone was clearly trying to discard evidence once they realised they were being observed.”
Police operatives immediately contacted nearby divisions along the route heading toward Funtua in Katsina State, but the vehicle had vanished before interceptors could close in.
Officers later hinted that the delay in receiving the initial report hindered their ability to track the suspects.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, noted that investigations are underway to determine the origin of the ammunition and the motive behind the suspects’ actions.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, urged Kaduna residents to remain alert and report suspicious movements promptly.
“The safety of this state depends on timely information,” he said. “We are pursuing every lead, and those behind this act will be found.”
He stressed that the Command will continue strengthening proactive policing measures across the state.
“Criminal groups should understand that Kaduna is not a safe space for their activities. Anyone attempting to test the resolve of the Police will face the full force of the law,” he added.
Security analysts warn that the incident highlights ongoing concerns about illegal arms transportation across the North-West.
Moreover, community members in Samaru have expressed relief over the swift recovery but worry about the broader implications.
Police authorities said the ammunition had been secured as evidence while efforts to track the fleeing suspects intensified.
The Command also appealed to transport operators, motorists, and residents to share timely intelligence that could aid the investigation.
This recovery comes at a time when Kaduna continues to strengthen surveillance in response to rising security threats. Further updates are expected as the manhunt progresses.