The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old student of Criminology and Security Studies at Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba, and three other suspects for alleged possession of illegal firearm.
The suspects were apprehended during a stop-and-search operation at Interbau Roundabout in Asaba, where police officers recovered a locally made Beretta pistol concealed inside a bag in a tricycle.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said preliminary investigation revealed that the student allegedly purchased the firearm in Onitsha, Anambra State, for N350,000.
According to the suspect, the weapon was acquired for self-protection following a dispute involving a youth leader in his community.
Edafe disclosed that operatives later recovered a short axe from the residence of the principal suspect, who was reportedly preparing for initiation into the Vikings Confraternity.
In a separate operation, police arrested two suspected armed robbers identified as Moses Francis, 29, and Cosmos Erueseke, 26, in Ughelli.
The police spokesman said the suspects were linked to a series of robbery attacks in the area and are currently assisting investigators, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other members of the gang.
He further revealed that operatives intercepted an abandoned Toyota Sienna vehicle along the Ozoro-Oleh Expressway and recovered suspected illicit drugs, including codeine, tramadol, Swinol, Man G and Vega during a search of the vehicle.
According to him, the driver fled into a nearby bush on sighting security operatives and remains at large.
Edafe said investigations into all the incidents are ongoing, assuring that the command remains committed to tackling crime and criminality across the State.