Police seized 100 bags of live cartridges, 15 pump action guns and 12 double-barrel guns.
The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama, assisted by members of the anti-robbery squad.
The arms were being conveyed in a Mercedes Benz lorry marked XF 283 FGG before the police, acting on a tip-off, stopped the vehicle.
Arms dealer Paul Odunze, 57, from Umudioka in Dunukofia Local Government, was arrested along with Nwawue Ifionu, the 53- year- old driver of the truck.
Commissioner of Police Muhtari Ibrahim paraded the suspects. He vowed to step up the security in the state and urged the public to continue to provide information for the police.
It was gathered that the arms importer was arrested for possessing illegal arms three years ago when Mr Philemon Leha was Commissioner of Police in the state.
The arms dealer told reporters that he imported the arms for the vigilance groups in the state. But he did not mention the sponsor of the project. He said it was his second trip in arms importation.
The seizure of the arms excited Governor Peter Obi who visited the Police headquarters with his deputy, Emeka Sibeudu.
Obi said his efforts in crime fighting are yielding dividends.
He said: "The first priority of my administration is security and a breakthrough has been made as a result of the cordial relationship between this administration and the police."
Obi said, "We can not bequeath to our children anarchy, it is dangerous.
"Everybody must sacrifice in building a better society for our children," he said.
The governor described the importation of arms into the state as shocking.
Source: Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment