Operatives of the Edo State police command have raided some riverine communities and recovered arms and ammunition in the area.
It was gathered that the raid followed the arrest of one Lawrence Yambo and his gang, who have been terrorising the Okomu riverine communities in Ovia West LGA of the state.
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The command’s spokesman, SP Chidi Nwanbizor, said the action was in continuation of the ongoing raids of criminal hideouts and cultist enclaves in the state.
“On August 26, following the continuous onslaught on criminal elements in the state and subsequent arrest of one Lawrence Yambo and his gang, who have been terrorising the Okomu riverine communities in Ovia West Local Government, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, directed an intensive raid of the area.
He said following the directive, the command’s intelligence and rapid response squad, crack team and the maritime police stormed the area, but on sighting the police, other miscreants terrorizing the community fled into Agbede forest and abandoned their loot.
He said the police thereafter embarked on a house-to-house search in the community leading to the recovery of arms and ammunition.
SP Nwanbuzor listed the arms and ammunition recovered during the raid to include, two AK 49 rifles, one AK 47 rifle, two locally made revolver single barrel guns, one locally made single barrel gun, one locally made double barrel gun, one locally made cut to size gun, 128 pieces of AA cartridges, 12 pieces of 9mm ammunition, two telephone handsets, two army shirts, two high-pressure gas cylinders and a bag of charms.
He said the commission was appealing for continuous collaboration from the people of the state, including security stakeholders in the fight against crime and criminality.