Commissioner of Police Raises The Alarm Over
Sophisticated Weapons In
Rivers – Odesanya
The newly deployed commissioner of
police in Rivers state, Francis Mobalaji
Odesanya, has raised the alarm over the
circulation of sophisticated weapons in
the state.
This is as the Nigerian Army yesterday
conducted raid operation at Lagos
street, Abuja estate, Waterfront and
some black spots in Port Harcourt City
local government area of the state and
arrested a total of 142 suspects.
Odesanya, who raised the alarm when
the police management team paid a
courtesy visit to the Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC) of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak in Port Harcourt,
vowed to mop up the arms and
ammunition.
He stated that the state has some
security challenges just like other states
in the country, assuring that police were
on ground and would sustain the existing
peace, even during elections.
The police commissioner said, “police has
always been on the ground,police has
always been ready for elections. We are
on the ground and the state is secured;
and the state will be secured.
“The problem here is the issue of over
proliferation of arms. What is happening
in Rivers, is also happening in other
states. But the problem of Rivers state is
that they have sophisticated weapons.
So my primary assignment of focus is to
mop up arms. We must mop up arms;
we have started. We have been
recovering arms”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, in a
statement issued in Port Harcourt
yesterday by the assistant director, Army
Public Relations, Captain Eli Lazarus, said
after profiling the 142 suspects, some of
them were released while 15 others are
being further interrogated.
The statement reads, “In the early hours
of Sunday, 31 July 2016, men of 2
Brigade Nigerian Army conducted raid
operation at Lagos street, Abuja general
area and some black spots in Port
Harcourt city. This is in continuation of
the Brigade’soperation against criminals
and cultists in Rivers state.
“One hundred and forty two suspects
were arrested during the raid operation.
However, after profiling the suspects,
some were released while fifteen suspects
are being interrogated and would be
handed over to relevant security agencies
for further investigation.
“Additionally, the Brigade is conducting
show of force as part of the army’s
‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’ which
commenced this weekend. The public is
hereby enjoined to continue to provide
security agencies with credible
information that would assist in the
arrest of criminals in the society.” #Riversstateispeacefulwithsophisticatedweapons
