Four dangerously armed northerners travelling to Edo, intercepted

Four dangerously armed northerners travelling from Doguwa in Kano State to Uvbe community in Edo State in the South South, Nigeria were intercepted and their weapons seized.

They were intercepted by the Edo State Security Network (ESN) and recovered from them guns, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons.

The suspects gave their name as Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu, disclosing that they travelling from Doguwa in Kano State to Uvbe Community in Orhionwon Local Government Area of Edo State when they were arrested at Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, the state capital.

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed arrest of the suspects in a statement by the Police Relations Officer, CSP Moses Joel Yamu.

The Police said suspects were intercepted with an arsenal that included three dane guns, six empty cartridges, three half-filled cartridges, four cutlasses, and two daggers, adding that the suspects were handed over to officers at the Ikpoba Hill Police Station for investigation.

“The command wishes to inform the general public that four (4) suspects Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu intercepted by a member of the Edo Security Network with three (3) dane guns, six (6) empty cartridges,  three (3) half filled cartridges, four (4) cutlasses and two (2) daggers, were swiftly taken over by officers from the Ikpoba Hill Police Station.

“The Edo Command is aware of a misinformation on the social media that four (4) herdsmen armed with guns were arrested at Americanus hotel on Osemwenkhae street after Big Joe motors, Ramat park Orogbeni Quarters and handed over to the Police.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that they are hunters, not herdsmen. They were from Doguwa in Kano State heading to Uvbe Community in Orhionwon LGA of Edo State. Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing”, CSP Moses Joel Yamu said.

The command urged the public to verify information before sharing to avoid causing unnecessary panic.

Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, appealed to Edo residents to refrain from spreading misinformation that could heighten tension across communities.

This development comes less than a month after a similar incident in which 16 armed travellers concealed in a truck were intercepted and mobbed by locals in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of Edo State. 

The armed travellers were accused of being behind series of kidnappings and killings experienced in Uromi area. The incident however sparked outrage and arrests forcing government to initiate ongoing probe.