Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye on Monday warned residents of the state in possession of prohibited firearms to surrender the weapons or risk jail terms if caught.
The CP who gave the warning while briefing reporters on achievements of the command within three months of his posting, said the Command would not spare anyone found with prohibited arms, regardless of his status or sponsor.
He expressed worry over proliferations of illegal arms within the region, restating his Command’s commitment to fighting the menace to ensure safety and security of residents.
He said, “It’s common knowledge we have porous borders where arms come in illegitimately, which security agencies are working tirelessly to plug.
“I can also tell you that weapons are sold in Onitsha main markets. From experience, I’ve personally recovered weapons in the 90s. I think it has even worsened.
“Again, during endSARS, there were series of attacks in various police formations. Military checkpoints attacked, officers killed and their weapons stolen.
“We’re not even talking of local fabrication which Awka town is known for.
“Anyone we catch with illegal arms or manufacturing get a long jail term without compromise. I don’t care the person’s status or the backers.
“However, a period of Amnesty has been declared by IGP for those in possession of prohibited firearms to willingly surrender them to the police.
“Anyone complying with this order has nothing to fear as there won’t be arrest or prosecution for such submission of the weapons.
“All our Area Commanders and DPOs have been briefed of this directive and they won’t embarass and intimidate those who voluntarily surrender their weapons.
“Once the IGP announces the grace period is over, we’ll begin a massive clamp down such that has never been witnessed in this part of the country before now.”
While parading over 129 suspects, Adeoye disclosed that among them included 30 insurgents, 39 robbers, 38 cultists, 22 kidnappers, while 24 kidnap victims were rescued during the period in view.
He said 26 firearms, 93 ammunitions, 25 vehicles, 14 tricycles, 7 motorcycles, a roll of ammored cable 16 iron grllls were recovered during the period.
“Three persons were arrested for hijacking a commercial bus with 18passengers on board and took them to custody with a view to demanding ransom.
“A joint team of Police and Army, on a tip off, swooped on them and they abandoned both the passengers and bus and fled.
“The vehicle was recovered while the passengers were rescued and facilitated their journey to their respective destinations,” he said.
