BENIN CITY-Edo State Police command has paraded 62 suspected criminals arrested during the last Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.
The Commissioner of police in Edo Mr Haliru Gwandu paraded before the suspects before newsmen at the state police command headquarters in Benin City, yesterday.
He disclosed that the determination of the police command to ensure a peaceful yuletide and a more secured Edo state led to the arrest of the suspects and many others whose cases are still being investigated by operatives of the command.
CP Gwandu however thanked the people of Edo state for support and collaboration which he affirmed led to the successes so far recorded in the far against crime and criminality in the state.
“The command fought gallantly to ensure a safe yuletide.
“We are not claiming the credit alone, it is a collective responsibility, l thank the people of the state for their unflinching support”. Mr Gwandu stated.
He solicited for a more robust partnership that would enhance security in the state.
While giving a breakdown of the harvest of arrest the police boss disclosed that 11 suspected armed robbers and 33 cultists were among taken away from the criminal activities in the state.
He stated further that the command had begun a discreet investigation into four cases of murder reported within the period under review.
The Commissioner of police also paraded arms, ammunition, paraphernalia suspected to belong to cult groups, sachets of tablets said to be controlled drugs and dangerous weapons.
Over 200 bags of weeds suspected to be cannabis and seven vehicles said to have been recovered from the suspects were also displayed before newsmen.
Confessing to crime of armed robbery, a JSS 3 student (name withheld) who claimed to be 15 years said he gave a gun to his partner in crime one Olowo Osas, 20, who went with one other to rob a lady.
Also, one Desmond Ojo and three others admitted to have carried out several kidnap operations.
He stated that his five-man gang specialized in kidnapping of ladies who they raped and thereafter collected ransom from their family members.
One Festus Saturday confessed to have stolen a car where it was parked and sold it to a car dealer Emmanuel Omorodion who changed the colour of the vehicle.
Mr Omorodion admitted to have bought and repented the vehicle to attract customers as he is a registered car dealer in Benin City.
However, one Austin Iredi, 45, who allegedly impersonated operative of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) was paraded in a collar T-shirt and faze cap with the inscription FSARS.
Though Mr Austin admitted to have been in possession of the T-shirt and faze cap with a police identify card bearing his name as police inspector, he denied impersonation as the materials belong to his late friend who was a police officer in Lagos State Command.
