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Early morning travellers at the popular Flight Motor Park in Gboko, Benue State, witnessed sheer pandemonium on Tuesday, 10th December 2025, when a middle-aged man was arrested after a loaded pistol was discovered concealed inside a Bako bag filled with oranges.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect arrived at the park like any regular passenger, carrying what appeared to be an ordinary sack of fresh oranges. The bag, however, aroused suspicion when loaders and fellow travellers noticed it was unusually heavy for its contents.
A quick physical check by alert park handlers revealed a locally-made pistol carefully buried beneath layers of the fruit, allegedly placed there to bypass security checks and detection.
Security operatives attached to the park were immediately alerted, leading to the swift arrest of the suspect before he could board any vehicle. The entire park was momentarily thrown into confusion as passengers scattered in different directions while others gathered to catch a glimpse of the unfolding drama.
As at the time of filing this report, the suspect has been handed over to men of the Nigeria Police Force, Gboko Division, for interrogation and further investigation. His identity and motive are yet to be disclosed, but sources say preliminary questioning suggests he may have been heading out of the state.
The incident has once again highlighted the ingenuity of criminals who continue to devise new methods to move arms and contraband across the country, even as security agencies intensify efforts to curb illegal firearms proliferation.
Travellers and park operators in Gboko have commended the vigilance of the handlers, stressing that the discovery may have averted a major disaster had the weapon reached its intended destination.
More details will be provided as the police investigation progresses.
