Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a 55-year-old suspected gunrunner, Peter James, with a large cache of firearms and ammunition.
The arrest took place on March 3 during a stop-and-search operation along the Warri-Benin Road near Western Delta University, Oghara.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest and recovery of weapons.
According to Edafe, the suspect was driving a blue Toyota Camry with registration number PHC 257 NT when he was stopped by officers of Dragon 14.
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, and the officers noticed that the trunk, in the car popularly known as ‘Big Daddy,’ was unusually small. This raised suspicion, and the officers decided to check further,” Edafe explained.
He added that after removing the car’s seat, the officers found three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and 1,040 rounds of 51mm ammunition hidden inside the vehicle.
“The weapons have been recovered, and the suspect is now in custody while investigations continue,” he stated.
In a related operation, Edafe disclosed that officers from Dragon Patrol Team 02 intercepted another vehicle, a navy blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM, along the Asaba-Benin Expressway near the National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo.
The vehicle was driven by 69-year-old Yahuza Magaji, accompanied by 17-year-old Abba Sani, both from Lere Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
Edafe said the suspects pretended to be traders transporting palm oil and garri, but a search of the vehicle uncovered seven pump-action guns and five cartons containing 1,600 rounds of live cartridges hidden under the back seat.
“A preliminary investigation showed that the suspects had bought the arms in Onitsha and were taking them to Kaduna State,” Edafe revealed.
The two suspects have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, praised the officers for their dedication in uncovering the hidden firearms.
Abaniwonda urged officers to remain vigilant and stressed the importance of keeping the state free of criminal activities.
He also instructed all tactical commanders, area commanders, and divisional police officers to step up efforts to ensure their areas remain unsafe for criminals.
