A team of anti-crime police squad of the Anambra State Police Command has arrested an adult male and recovered an AK-47 rifle from him.
The police team intercepted the man somewhere in Awada, Idemili North local government area of the state carrying a bag on Sunday.
The man, on sighting the police team, took to his heels and was chased until he was caught and overpowered by the police personnel.
When the bag was searched, it was found to contain an AK-47 Rifle with breech No. 25008266.
The public relations officer of the Anambra State Command, superintendent of police, SP Ikenga Tochukwu who narrated the incident in a statement he made available to newsmen in Awka yesterday said “search of database has shown that it (recovered AK-47 rifle) was not among firearms on charge to Anambra State Command.”
He stated that on interrogation, the suspect, who did not disclose his identity confessed that the weapon was procured for a showdown with a rival cult group.
Tochukwu said that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has commended members of the anti-crime police squad who made the recovery for their vigilance and tenacity of purpose. He directed that the investigation be widened and deepened to bring to book all those connected with the arms trafficking including an alleged financier abroad who provided funds for the purchase.
CP Adeoye also directed all personnel in the state police command to re-dedicate themselves to crime prevention and detection in service of the people in the state.