CP Abaniwonda Olufemi
* Suspects in custody
By John Egie
The police in Delta State have recovered a cache’ of arms and ammunition that were illegally transported by vendors across the State.
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The recovery was consequent on the extra vigilance of Operatives attached to Dragon 14 and Dragon Patrol Team 02 both of the Delta State Police Command at different flash points where the vehicles conveying the arms and ammo were intercepted and vendors arrested.
A release by the Command’s PPRO, SP Edafe Bright gave details of the recovery.
According to the police statement, “last Monday, March 3, at about 1200hrs Operatives of the Command attached to Dragon 14 while on stop and search duty along Warri/Benin Road by Western Delta University Oghara, intercepted a blue colour Toyota Camry with Reg No PHC 257 NT driven by one Peter James (m) aged 55yrs indigene of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
” The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry popularly known as “big daddy” was unusually small, this aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle has been modified for malicious purpose.
” The Policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7. 62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes. ” The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing.
Three days later, on Thursday, March 6, at about 1100hrs the Command’s Operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 while on stop and search duty along Asaba/Benin expressway by National Open University Onicha-Ugbo, intercepted a Navy Blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM driven by one Yahuza Magaji (m) aged 69 yrs old in company of one Abba Sani (m) aged 17 yrs old both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.
” They disguised as traders transporting Palm Oil and Garri, but the Police who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered Seven (7) pump action guns five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.
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” Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi commended and appreciated the effort, and determination of the men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms in the vehicle, he also encouraged and urged other officers of the command to emulate same.” The release added.
