The Police in Plateau State warned on Friday that they are set for a state-wide clamp down on residents who have failed to surrender the firearms in their possession. The exercise, according to the Command, will begin on April 30, 2018.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Undie Adie, made the disclosure while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Jos.
Adie said the exercise is in compliance with the directive by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to all state commands nationwide to mop up illegal arms for a safer country.
He said the command had given a “window period” for the voluntary submission of illegal and prohibited firearms by members of the public, which would lapse on April 30, 2018.
“So far, 171 illegal firearms, 795 rounds of live ammunitions and 131 cartridges have been mopped up from different locations through voluntary surrender,” he said.
The Police chief said anyone found to be in possession of illegal firearm after the window period would be dealt with according to the law.
The Commissioner maintained that the state command had concluded plans to commence thorough search of areas suspected to be housing such items towards recovering them and arresting the culprits.
He therefore warned that, “anyone yet to surrender his illegally acquired and/or prohibited firearm should do so before the Force begins its combing exercise”.
Also paraded during the briefing were suspects arrested in connection with various crimes, including car theft, murder, among others.