During the #EndSARS protests in Anambra, the state’s police command claims to have seized one pump action rifle allegedly stolen from 3-3 Police Station.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, CSP Haruna Mohammed, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Saturday, said that a 20-year-old suspect had recovered the weapon.
He said that the suspect was arrested at around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 21 in Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, in partnership with a local vigilance group, following an intelligence report.
Mohammed said that six other perpetrators of armed robbery were detained in separate operations in which weapons and ammunition were seized from them in equal measure.
He said a 25-year-old man, who was arrested in Abuja for allegedly stealing a 2005 Toyota Corolla model, had been handed over for further investigation to the FCT Police Command.
He said two other suspects were also arrested on Feb. 21 inside a residential apartment in Okija, all from the 3-3 area of Onitsha.
Mohammed said two pump action rifles and 11 cartridges were recovered from them, which they could not provide a satisfactory account of.
On February 22, a 22-year-old suspect from Ochuche Village in Umuodo, Ogbaru Local Government Area, was arrested with a cut-to-size locally-made double barrel rifle, according to a police spokesman.
“On Feb. 23, Puff Adder operatives, in conjunction with a patrol team attached to Otoucha Division, responded to a distress call around Igbariam and arrested a 29-year-old suspect.
“The suspect allegedly robbed a lady of her handset and other valuables at gunpoint.
“He voluntarily confessed and exhibits recovered from his possession included three phones, one pump action rifle, one cartridge and one unregistered motorcycle used in perpetrating the act,” Mohammed said.
Following an intelligence alert, he said, a police patrol team arrested a suspect on Feb. 26 at around 12:30 a.m. and seized one English-made pistol and a magazine from him.
Mohammed said that eight alleged cultists were also arrested during a secret cult initiation on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26, by operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cult Unit of the order.
The perpetrators, he said, were Payton Confraternity members.
The police spokesman said that three other suspects were also arrested by police, who, he said, willingly admitted to being part of the Vikings Confraternity.
He said that one axe and a beret contained exhibits retrieved from them.
According to him, all cases are being reviewed, after which the offenders will be brought before the courts.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
