Police apprehend dealer in explosives  

The Edo State Police Command has revealed the arrest of an illegal dealer in explosives, adding that explosive devices were recovered from the suspect in Edo State.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Abutu Yaro, in a statement promised residents of the state of the Command’s commitment to reducing crime to the barest minimum in the state.

The commissioner ordered all Area Commanders, tactical heads, and Divisional Police Officers to embark on intelligence gathering, bush combing in their areas of jurisdictions, and hideout of criminals.

The CP statement read in part: “On the 18/05/2022 at about 1400hrs, operatives of the Command attached to Fugar Divisional headquarters while on routine patrol along Auchi/Aghenebode Road, intercepted a Sienna bus en route Aghenebode with ten (10) passengers, on the spot search was conducted on the vehicle and items suspected to be explosive devices were found in a bag of one of the passengers, Michael Akhigbe, ‘M’ (46) a native of Iyuku Uzairue, Auchi in Etsako West LGA of Edo State”.

The police indicated that the team recovered some items from the suspect bag which include five high explosive 60mm and 50 supreme card relays.

The CP said that the suspect is cooperating with police investigation, noting that further investigation led to the arrest of two more suspects namely; Yesufu Blessing ‘M’ (45), a native of Iyuku Uzairue resident in Auchi, a quarry blaster and Haruna Braimah ‘M’ (35), a tipper driver, also a native of Iyuku Uzairue and resident in Auchi.

The police commissioner further directed the command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) to take over the recovered explosive devices for technical analysis while the investigation continues. He urged residents of the state to be calm and go about their lawful businesses.