The Nigeria Police Force on 20th January, 2013, arrested one Daniel Ofori – a Ghanaian and one other Olufumolayo Adeyemo both of whom reside in Accra, Ghana and are suspected to be behind the supply of arms and ammunition to criminal groups operating in parts of the country. The suspects were arrested at Idiroko, Ogun State, a town bordering Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. A total of 5,564 rounds of live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
CSP Frank E. Mba,Deputy Force Public Relations Officer said in a statement that the recovered cartridges were neatly concealed in the engine compartment and the inner crevices of the chassis of a Mercedes Benz 420 SE saloon car with registration No CC 270 FKJ driven by the said Daniel Ofori. They were intercepted by a Police Border Patrol Team while on tactical Anti-crime operations along Attan – Idiroko road, Idiroko, Ogun State. The suspects who claimed to have taken off from Ghana via Benin Republic, en route Lagos, are now being investigated by detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.
This breakthrough was made possible by recent measures taken by the Force to tighten the noose of security at all the country’s borders, in its avowed determination to cut off the communication and supply chains of international criminal gangs, thereby enhancing the safety and security of law abiding Nigerians
In another development, the Edo State Police Command, on 24th January, 2013, acting on intelligence, raided a local arms manufacturing factory believed to be responsible for the supply of lethal weapons to armed robbers, kidnappers and other violent criminal gangs in the South-West, South-South and South-East axis. Items recovered during the raid are: a) two (2) double barrel gun pipes, b) two (2) double barrel gun butts, c) three (3) single gun butts, d) nine (9) single barrel gun pipes e) one (1) locally made double barrel cut-to-size gun pipe, f) ten (10) single barrel gun engines, seven (7) expended cartridges g) one (1) drilling machine and h) a bag of weed suspected to be Indian hemp and other incriminating items.
Two male suspects – Abiodun Odiri aka ‘was born’ and Ohikhuemen Alex, arrested in the course of the raid are undergoing investigation.
While commending the diligence and professionalism of the officers that participated in the operations, the IGP reassures Nigerians of the determination of the Force under his leadership to continue to evolve new ways of improving on the security of life and property within the country. He directed that investigations into the cases should be speedily concluded and all suspects charged to court. The IGP appealed to Nigerians continue to to assist the Force with necessary information, as this is one of the most effective ways of supporting and complementing the efforts of the Police in the areas of crime fighting and maintenance of public safety.