Crime: Police Zone Five Gun-runners, Recovers Locally Made Guns

By Ayodele Oni

Two suspected gun runners, Godday Ebhodaghe and Ehichoya Omoiwade, alleged to be supplying arms and ammunition to kidnappers, cultusts and armed robbers have been arrested by police, zone five headquarters, in Benin city, Edo state.

According to a statement by Zone 5 Command’s spokesman, DSP Tijani  Momoh, while parading the suspects, said in his bid to mop up illegal arms as the governorship election approaches, men of the command embarked on operation search.

The statement added that the Assistant Inspector-General, (AIG) of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, covering Delta and Edo State Police Commands, Arungwa Nwazue, has ordered for a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the case of crime and criminality.

“On 23rd August, 2024 at about 0500hrs, eagle eyed operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad, led by ASP Mohammed Usman acting on credible and actionable intelligence stormed Ileh community in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State and successfully arrested two suspected gun runners namely; Godday Ebhodaghe ‘m’ and Ehichoya Omoiwade ‘m’.

“The operatives also recovered 30 locally fabricated guns, consisting of 23 single barrel and 7 double barrel guns, one English made double barrel gun was also recovered. 13 live  cartridges, a giant tool box and a drill machine used for the fabrication of the illegal firearms were also recovered.

“Preliminary investigation into the case has revealed that the suspects were in the business of selling and also renting out these firearms to kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists, who then use these illegal weapons for their operations, terrorizing the good people of Edo state and its environs in the process and will be arraigned in Court for prosecution.”

The AIG however called on law-abiding citizens of Delta and Edo States to be vigilant as they go about their lawful activities and to report all suspicious activities and persons to the nearest Police Station.