The police command in Rivers State has recovered an illegal firearm concealed inside a loaf of bread and arrested a suspect in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Friday in Port Harcourt.
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Ms Agabe, an assistant superintendent of police, said the firearm was recovered during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by police operatives along Azikiwe Road near Red Cross Junction in the city.
According to her, officers intercepted a vehicle and carried out a thorough search of its occupants.
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She said the search led to the discovery of a Browning pistol ingeniously concealed inside a loaf of bread.
“The pistol was recovered from Mr Braya Nanas, a resident of New Road, Borikiri, who was travelling as a passenger in the vehicle,” she said.
Ms Agabe stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the firearm had no visible serial number, raising concerns about its source and intended use.
She added that the suspect allegedly admitted ownership of the weapon during interrogation.
“The suspect confessed that he purchased the firearm in Okirika Local Government Area for N800,000,” she said.
Ms Agabe said investigations were ongoing to determine the origin of the weapon and whether it was linked to any criminal activities.
She said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to remain vigilant and security conscious.
According to her, Mr Adepoju noted that criminals were increasingly adopting deceptive methods to evade detection by security agencies.
“The discovery of a firearm hidden inside a loaf of bread demonstrates the increasingly deceptive methods employed by criminal elements to evade detection,” he said.
He advised residents to be cautious of suspicious persons, packages and activities within their communities.
He also warned against accepting, transporting or storing items whose contents were unknown, noting that such actions could inadvertently aid criminal activities.
The police commissioner called on members of the public to support law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information.
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“Effective policing thrives on strong community partnership. If you see something, say something.
“Together, we can build a safer, more secure and crime-free Rivers State,” he said.
Mr Adepoju reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
(NAN)
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