BENIN CITY – Ahead of the coronation of the Benin Crown Prince and Edaiken N’ Uselu, HRH (Amb) Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, tomorrow, five thousands policemen have been deployed to provide security during and after the historic event in Benin City.

CP Gwandu stated that the police personnel comprised of Special Protection Unit (SPU), Anti-Bomb Squad, Mobile Policemen and conventional policemen.

He further added that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies would be available to maintain law and order during the coronation period.

The police Commissioner stated that the deployment of the personnel was to ensure maximum security for residents and dignitaries that would be coming from within and outside Nigeria to grace the epic occasion, tomorrow, Thursday, October 20, 2016.

He however appealed to residents of the state particularly Benin City to cooperate with the law enforcement agents during and after the event.

Meanwhile, 53 suspected criminals have been apprehended and a cache of arms and ammunition recovered by operatives of Edo Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State Mr Haliru Gwandu disclosed this during his maiden press briefing in Benin City, yesterday.

COMPOL Gwandu stated that the 53 suspects were arrested for various criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, unlawful possession of firearms to pipeline vandalism.

He maintained that the proactive security measures adopted by his command and the determination to mop-up arms in Edo State, led to the success story.

Mr Gwandu called on members of the public to volunteer information that would further assist the police in their operations.

Among exhibits paraded along with the suspects included 21 sophisticated guns, several ammunition, charms, bow and arrows, dagger, cutlasses, drilling machine, bunkering tools and rubber pipes.

One trailer tanker and Audi 80 car were also recovered.

Some of the suspects, Sunday Kadiri, Harrison Ehimen and Adekunle Olawale while speaking with our reporter stated that “everything we successfully robbed from our victim was recovered from us.

“Me Adekunle was caught in the act, I took them to where we hid the iPad and others”.