With few months away from 2015 general elections in the country, Police have handed down 14-days ultimatum to hoodlums across Edo state to submit all arms in their possession or face arrest and prosecution.
This declaration is in response to recent violence that characterized Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses in the state, and the shooting of three persons by suspected hoodlums, resulting in the remand of a state House of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Nosa Adams, in prison custody.
Therefore, concerted efforts must be made to nip what it `termed the dangerous trend in the bud, according to Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, Commissioner of Police in the state, who made the disclosure at the police headquarters at the weekend in Benin City, the state capital, where 76 suspected criminals were paraded.
“I seize this opportunity to warn everyone in Edo state, irrespective of his or her status, to surrender to the office of the Commissioner of Police, Edo state, within a period of fourteen days, all illegally acquired weapons in their possessions. Failure to adhere to this ultimatum will spell danger for anyone arrested with such illegal weapons, Foluso said.
The commissioner announced financial reward for members of the public who offer information that would lead to the “recovery of the massive arms and ammunition’’ in the state, assuring that such `information would be handled with utmost discreet by the Agency.
According to him, “You will recall that recently, in Edo state, political thugs openly wielded guns and other dangerous weapons, shot at one another even in an ordinary ward congresses exercise. The implication is that if this dangerous trend is not check now, the election proper is likely to turn to a theatre of war’’ which may scuttle smooth transition in governance”.
