Five individuals have been apprehended by the Bayelsa State Police Command over the disappearance of two rifles assigned to personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Yenagoa.
The rifles, which were stolen from NSCDC officers stationed at the Airtel office in the state capital, were eventually recovered by officers attached to the Operation Puff Adder unit, following a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
The suspects in custody include Tijani Nuhu (23) from Kaduna, Bello Mohammed (27) from Zamfara, Ebi Collins (26) and Godspower James (37) from Bayelsa, as well as Happy Friday (25) from Edo State.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Nuhu initially took the rifles and hid them in a refuse bin at Yenezue-Epie.
He allegedly enlisted the help of Friday to locate a buyer. However, Friday reportedly double-crossed him, retrieving the weapons and contacting a Lagos-based associate known as Ernest Lagos, also referred to as “Five Stars,” to facilitate the sale.
Acting on directives from Commissioner of Police Francis Idu, the Operation Puff Adder team intensified surveillance across Yenagoa.
Their efforts, alongside tips from local vigilante groups, helped trace the suspects, who were allegedly attempting to sell the rifles for between N40,000 and N200,000.
Commissioner Idu, who confirmed the arrest on Friday, commended the swift response of the tactical team and emphasized the command’s continued commitment to security and arms control within the state.
Leave a Reply