By Osaigbovo Iguobaro Benin
Edo state Police Command has withdrawn prohibited fire arms and ammunition from some very important personalities (VIP’s) and other Nigerians.
The arms were those which did not comply with the laid down rules of licencing.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Babatunde Kokumo disclosed this at the headquarters of the Command on Thursday in Benin City where he paraded nine suspects and136 arms and ammunition as well as 167 live cartridges before newsmen.
He stated that the feat was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to all state Commands to mop-up illegal arms and ammunition in circulation which expired recently.
Kokumo, said arms were mopped-up based on intelligence-led investigations by Police personnel which also led to arrest of a three member gang who were identified as Daniel Kolade, Amos Oja and Osaro Oja.
The suspects, according to him, had threatened to kidnap one Reuben Eghobor, if he fails to part with the sum of N1m (One million naira) into a Zenith Bank account whose details were yet to be released by the Police.
The Police Commissioner further explained that a significant number of the persons who were with the illegal arms brought them to Police willingly, while some others that were mopped-up, were traced to their late parents.
According to him, “prohibited firearms are not to be seen with either private individuals, corporate bodies because they are prohibited.
“They are not even arms that you can bear with license “So what we have discovered in recent times is that you can bear with license.
“What we have in recent times is that we have members of the public including corporate entities that will apply for firearms license and after given them firearms license, they go ahead to procure firearms that are actually covered by the firearm license.
“For instance, when you have a firearm license to bear a double barrel gun, it does not extend for you to procure and bear a pump action gun because it remains prohibited,” he said.
