Police arrest vigilante with gun hidden inside bag of rice

The anti-crime squad of the Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a 25-year-old vigilante member, Enediong Bassey, for concealing a pump-action gun inside a rice bag.

The arrest occurred last Thursday at about 6:38 p.m. in Nkwelle-Ezunaka. The operation was led by CSP Emeka Obi of the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters, as disclosed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement released on Tuesday in Awka.

During interrogation, Bassey, a native of Ikono Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, admitted to being a vigilante member. He also confessed that he was attempting to flee with the firearm to join a criminal gang involved in armed robbery and other illicit activities.

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“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of Community Policing reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the Police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the State, Ikenga said.

The command spokesman further said that the CP has already directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the anti-robbery squad of the command for comprehensive investigation.