I import, sell guns, bullets to vigilance groups

A 75-year-old man, Olayiwola Araba, and three other persons have been arrested by the police of the Zone 2 Command, for allegedly being in possession of firearms.

The septuagenarian and the three others, Olanrewaju Kabiru, Jide Akinola and Oladele Jacob, were arrested by the operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, led by Gbenga Megbope, a Chief Superintendent of Police.

The image-maker in charge of the zone, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that the elderly man was arrested for supplying firearms to local security men without the approval of the police.

Badmos, while speaking on the arrest of the suspects, said, “We are holding the seller and the buyers for illegal possession of firearms, because the seller has no document to show he had the approval of the police authorities to sell firearms to members of the public.”

The Zone 2 police image-maker also added that “we are going to conduct a discreet investigation into the case to identify the routes at which the arms and ammunition come into the country. The arrest of the three other suspects who are vigilance group members led to the arrest of the man who sold the gun to them at his residence in Gbagada area of Lagos State.”

While speaking, the septuagenarian, however, denied he sold the firearms illegally, insisting he had license from the police for his operation.

The man said, “My father was into importation of guns into the country before he died. When he died, I took over the business and I got my own license in 1974 to bring firearms into the country.

“When I was arrested, I showed the documents given to me by the police, but they did not believe me. I have been dealing with reputable individuals and companies, and I don’t sell guns to criminals,” the man said.