A mixed group of safety operatives in Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east, have arrested two crime suspects and recovered arms and ammunition in a number of operations within the state.
The police spokesperson within the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a press release on Tuesday.
Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, stated the suspects have been arrested through the operations within the state.
He stated arms and ammunition have been recovered when safety operatives raided a legal hideout through the operations.
The operations
Mr Ndukwe stated the a number of operations started on 3 September when operatives from Umabor Divisional Police Headquarters rescued after which arrested a 23-year-old man, Collins Ugwu, accused of threatening one other man with a rifle.
He stated the operation was carried out in collaboration with native vigilantes within the space.
“The suspect additional confessed to membership of the Black Axe Confraternity,” the police spokesperson stated.
“One regionally fabricated double-barrelled pistol loaded with a dwell cartridge was recovered from him.”
Mr Ndukwe stated, in one other operation on 5 September, police operatives from Abakpa Division arrested a 26-year-old man, Peter Kalu, for allegedly inflicting “public disturbance”.
He stated the suspect was arrested when the operatives have been conducting their night time patrol at about 11:05 p.m. within the space.
“A search performed on him led to the restoration of a regionally fabricated imitation pistol,” he stated.
Mr Ndukwe stated, in a separate operation on 6 September, police operatives from the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad raided a legal hideout in Ameke Ngwo, a neighborhood in Udi Native Authorities Space of the state.
The spokesperson stated the operation, which was performed in collaboration with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, adopted a tip-off on the actions of the suspects.
“On sighting the operatives, a bunch of suspected criminals fled, abandoning a bag.
A search of the bag led to the restoration of two regionally fabricated firearms: one triple-barreled pistol and one single-barreled pistol,” he stated.
Mr Ndukwe harassed that “these operational breakthroughs” have been a part of the “sustained efforts” of the police within the state to rid Enugu State of criminality.
“Additional discreet investigations into the instances are ongoing, whereas the arrested suspects shall be arraigned in court docket upon conclusion of investigations,” he assured.
Commissioner speaks
Mr Ndukwe stated the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has counseled the operatives for his or her swift responses and profitable operations.
Mr Giwa reassured residents of Enugu State that the police within the state have been dedicated to sustained operations in opposition to criminals.
The police commissioner urged the residents to stay law-abiding, vigilant, and assist the police with “well timed provision of credible data.”
Prohibited in Nigeria
Unlawful possession of firearms is outlawed in Nigeria. Firearms Act 1959 and the Theft and Firearms (Particular Provisions) Act (2004) stay the principal laws in opposition to the unlawful possession of firearms.
The Theft and Firearms (Particular Provisions) Act (2004) prescribes a 10-year jail time period for individuals convicted of the offence.
Nonetheless, a laws proposed by Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting features a five-year jail time period for firearms possession with no license.
Just like the unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, also called secret societies, is outlawed in Nigeria.
Nonetheless, the legal guidelines fluctuate from state to state. In Enugu State, as an example, cultism is outlawed within the Public Order (Prohibition of Secret Cults and their actions) Regulation No. 17 of the Enugu State of Nigeria 2009.
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It is usually outlawed within the Prison Code, Cap. 30, Vol II Revised Legal guidelines of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
A number of individuals have been convicted in Nigeria for offences of unlawful possession of firearms and cultism throughout Nigeria.
In July 2021, a Justice of the Peace Courtroom in Lokoja, Kogi State, sentenced a scholar of Kogi State Polytechnic, Shehu Mohammed, to eight years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and cultism.
An Ekiti Excessive Courtroom, in 2019, sentenced a Nigerian man to 10 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.
