The police in Niger State have arrested a 23-year-old suspect identified as Philip Bawa of Kakulaji Village via Beji in Bosso Local Government Area of the State. He was found in possession of one locally made revolver pistol with four rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one dangerous long sharp sword.
The suspect was apprehended on 7th April 2024 at about 0200hrs by a team of Police Operatives attached to the Operation Flush patrol team of Bosso area of the State while conducting routine stop and search operations based on credible intelligence.
Philip Bawa was intercepted alongside three other young men on a motorcycle with registration Number: KEF 579VP at Immrat Junction, in Tudun-Fulani area of Bosso Local Government Area of the State.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a vigilante member of Kaku village, via Beji, Bosso LGA, stating that the pistol and the knife were for self-defence.
The suspect further stated that he bought the pistol and the knife from a yet-to-be-identified man in transit at Kaku for the rate of N10,000.00 (ten thousand naira) some years ago but couldn’t recall the name of the person.
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However, when our reporter called the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Monday in Minna for confirmation, he confirmed the arrest of the suspect. He added that the 23-year-old suspected criminal has also been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Minna for further investigation.
Abiodun added that upon the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect would be arraigned in court for prosecution.