35 arrested, 2 guns recovered in Delta

Thirty-five suspects have recently been arrested through an operation involving security agencies, including the army, air force and the police in Delta state.
The Commander, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army Benin, Edo State, Brigadier General Faroque Yahaya, Commander, 61 NAF, Delta, Air Commodore Sani Zakari and the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Alkali Baba Usman, jointly addressed the press over the development at the 3 Battalion Barracks, Effunrun, Delta state Friday.
Speaking at the briefing / parade of suspects as well as arms and ammunition recovered during the operations, Brig Gen Yahaya said the operations would continue until the state, which had been notorious for the proliferation of illegal arms and gangster activities, had been purged of the dangerous trend.
Friday’s operation, which yielded the arrests and arms recovery, was carried out in Ekpan and Effunrun communities in Uvwie council area of the state’s.
“In the early hours of this morning. A joint operation codenamed “operation Yankari” was conducted by the military comprising elements from the Nigerian army, Nigerian navy, Nigerian airforce, police and elements from state security service. It was a successful operation to check the spread of small arms in our means. Ammunitions were recovered and suspects were arrested.

“I just want to reiterate that the security in Delta State is determined to rid our communities of illicit arms that are being used to terrorise law abiding citizens in the state. Those arrested will be investigated. The operation would be continuous as we continue to gather information. We advise those trafficking illicit arms to peacefully surround them otherwise we will get them,” he said.
Giving details of the operation, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Alkali Baba Usman said “It’s an operation carried out because of the incessant complaints of crimes and criminality around the area we have conducted the operation.
“A total of 35 suspects have been arrested. A preliminary screening has taken place. We have been able to identify three and they have been released. The remaining 32 suspects will be taken for further investigation for various offences.
“We have also recovered during the exercise a G3 Riffle loaded with 20 rounds ammunitions and a pistol. We also recovered other incriminating items including ballot papers, but we are yet determined whether they are fake,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the operation was not targeted at individual but criminals while dismissing claims that people’s homes were invaded during the operation that lasted for several hours
The  Nations