35 suspects arrested in arms mop-up operation in Delta

A combined team of security agencies has apprehended 35 suspected criminals in Ekpan and neighbouring communities in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta. The security operatives, which comprised of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, the Nigeria Police and Department of States Security, raided the communities in the early hours of Friday, to mop up illegal arms. IGP-Solomon-Arase IGP-Solomon-Arase Parading the suspects on Friday at the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, Brig.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Commander, 4th Brigade, said that the security agencies were determined to rid Delta of illicit arms. 

He said that those arrested would be investigated, while the operation would be continuous. “In the early hours of this morning, a joint operation codenamed “Operation Yankari’’, was carried out by the military, Police and Department of State Security. “It was an operation to check the spread of small arms in our midst. “During the exercise, arms and ammunition were recovered and suspects were arrested,’’ he said. The commander called on those involved in the trafficking of illicit arms to surrender them as the law would catch up with them. “You just cannot escape us; better find legal means of doing your business. “If you have arms, just willfully surrender them,’’ he advised. Also speaking, the Delta Commissioner of Police, Baba Alkali, said that the exercise became necessary because of incessant complaints that criminals were terrorising Ekpan, Eburumede, Ogbomro and some other communities in Uvwie. Alkali said: “A total of 35 suspects were arrested and during our preliminary screening, three persons were identified and have been released.

 “The other 32 suspects will be subjected to further investigation. “We also recovered a G3 Riffle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition and other incriminating items including suspected ballot papers. “We also had an incident of an accident when a tricycle operator was flagged down to stop for security agents to search. “Instead of stopping and in an effort to escape, the vehicle ran into a truck and the two occupants were latter confirmed dead,’’ he said. Alkali said that the operation would be extended to neighbouring town like Warri “as soon as the security agents get intelligent information.” The CP assured members of the public that justice would be done to the suspects, adding that security operatives would not succumb to any pressure to release any of them. 

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Bright Edejegwro, who commented on the development, said that the security of lives and properties was all-inclusive, and urged people to assist the security agents with useful information. 

(NAN)