Five persons have been arrested by men of the Katsina State Police Command for allegedly being in illegal possession of AK-47 rifles.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that the five suspects were apprehended in Kurmi village, Bakori Local Government Area of the state.
Disclosing this information, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said, “On December 19, 2023, based on credible intelligence, our operatives attached to Bakori Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with members of the vigilante, while on patrol, successfully identified and apprehended five suspects.
“The suspects are Sharhabilu Dahiru, 20, Abubakar Tukur, 25 Kasamanu Abdullahi, 20, Abdulrahman Shu’aibu, 20, and Sulaiman Sanusi, also 20 years old.
“All the suspects are from Kakumi village, Bakori LGA.”
He noted that upon questioning, the suspects confessed to having stolen the said firearm from the residence of one Jamilu Lawal of the same village.
“Due to the seriousness of the crime, Lawal was immediately invited for further investigation on the illegal possession of the AK-47 rifle.
“All suspects are in custody as the investigation proceeds,” the police spokesman added.
Similarly, a Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, has sentenced a 32-year-old man, Erenyanate Wealth Godday, to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms.
The convict, an indigene of Nembe-Bassambiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was arrested for an armed robbery attack on a drive-in Filling Station/Bar known as Kimowei Filling Station located at Amarata area of the state capital, on 11th of April, 2023.
The prosecution team also told the court that the convict was arrested at his residence located at Imgbi Road on 28th April, 2023, by the men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command.
According to the charge sheet, during the search in his house, a locally fabricated English Beretta pistol with three rounds of 9mm ammunition was recovered by Police operatives.
He was later arraigned for unlawful possession of firearms.
The presiding judge, Justice Mike Ikabe of Court 13, after hearing the submission of the prosecuting and defence counsels, sentenced Erenyanate Wealth Godday to 10 years imprisonment.