Two members of the Nigerian Legion, Boniface Endiajusun and Felix Bassey, arrested by the police for alleged unlawful possession of a gun, said they were not aware that the law forbade them from carrying arms and ammunition.
The suspects were providing security at a Church harvest in Benin City when they were apprehended by the operatives of the Edo State Police Command.
In an interview with journalists, after he was paraded by the police, Boniface said they were arrested while providing security during a church harvest in Benin City.
“We were invited to provide security during church harvest when a vehicle drove in and I beckoned on him where to pack but the driver opened his door, and an officer came out and asked us to enter their vehicle, saying we were under arrest for carrying guns and took to the station,” he said.
The suspect said when they were employed by the Nigerian Legion, they were told that they were allowed to carry arms, adding, “It was at the station that the police let us know that the law doesn’t permit us to carry arms.
“I learnt how to use arms while I was in the Nigeria Navy but I voluntarily retired due to a spinal cord injury I sustained and later joined the Nigerian Legion in 2020 after recovering from the injury.”
Parading the suspect, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Dankwara, said the suspects, suspected to be cult members, were arrested at new Lagos road with one pump action gun.
He said the suspects later claimed to be members of the Nigerian Legion and that investigation is ongoing.
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