Police nab gunrunners, mop up arms ahead of Edo poll
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, covering Delta and Edo State Police Commands, Mr Arungwa Nwazue said in order to keep the state safe before, during and after the governorship election, men of the Eagle Eyed Operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad, have arrested gunrunners and mopped up arms from the state.
The Zone 5 Public Relations Officer DSP Tijani Momoh disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City.
He said the Eagle Eyed Operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad, led by ASP Mohammed Usman acting on credible and actionable intelligence stormed Ileh community in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State and successfully arrested two suspected gun runners namely; Godday Ebhodaghe ‘m’ and Ehichoya Omoiwade ‘m’.
DSP Momoh said the operatives also recovered 30 locally fabricated guns, consisting of 23 single barrel and 7 double barrel guns, one English made double barrel gun.
Momoh added that 13 live cartridges, a giant tool box and a drill machine used for the fabrication of the illegal firearms were also recovered.
He said preliminary investigation into the case has revealed that the suspects were in the business of selling and also renting out these firearms to kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists who then use these illegal weapons for their operations, terrorizing the good people of the state and its environs in the process.
He said fight against these criminal elements was fired up by the directives Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters to keep the state safe before, during and after the governorship election.
"In his bid to mop up illegal arms and ammunition within his jurisdiction, especially as we draw closer to the gubernatorial election in Edo State has ordered for a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the case, after which the suspects will be arraigned in Court for prosecution.
"Additionally, the AIG calls on all law-abiding citizens of Delta and Edo State to be vigilant as they go about their lawful activities and to report all suspicious activities and persons to the nearest Police Station, Momoh quoted Mr Arungwa Nwazue to have said so.
