The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a suspected gunrunner from Kaduna after finding seven pump-action guns concealed in a vehicle he was travelling in along the Benin-Asaba Expressway on Monday.
PUNCH Metro gathered that several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the vehicle, as seen in an interrogation video shared on X by Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday.
Edafe stated that police operatives conducting a stop-and-search intercepted a vehicle transporting food items. However, a thorough search led to the discovery of guns carefully hidden under the seat.
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He explained that during interrogation, the suspect admitted to buying the guns at the Onitsha market and was on his way to Kaduna when he was arrested.
Edafe said, “We have always continued to reiterate the importance of stopping and searching while discharging our duty. This is what we have been able to recover in the course of our duty. These are seven pump-action guns.
“Today, our operatives attached to the Dragon Unit while on a stop-and-search duty along the Benin-Asaba Expressway just by the National Open University intercepted this vehicle carrying oil, rice, garri and other things and the policemen in their smartness, sighted these cartridges hidden under the seat of the vehicle. The cartridges comprised 32 rounds in a pack of 50 hidden under the seats of the vehicles.
“When you see policemen going in-depth during stop-and-search, people will say they are just determined to look for offence at all costs. Imagine what these arms will do in the hands of criminals.”
While being questioned, the suspect, whose face was not shown, stated that he bought each gun for N1.3 million and purchased a pack of bullets for N47,000.
The suspect added that the food items he was conveying were not meant to conceal the guns he was carrying but for another purpose.
“We got the guns at the Onitsha market. Each one is N1.3m. I bought the cartridges separately at N47,000. I am taking the guns to Kaduna. I put the guns and the cartridges under the seat and I covered them with paper.
“I am the owner of the oil and the garri. I bought them because I want to use them. I did not use them to conceal the guns. This is my first time doing this,” he said.
The PPRO ended by advising residents of the state to avoid criminal activities.
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