ENUGU— A physically-challenged gun dealer who produces and sells firearms to criminals has been arrested from his hideout in a remote area of Enugu state and one locally made double barrel pistol and other lethal weapons recovered from his possession, the State Police Command said on Monday.
The suspect identified as 69-year-old Eze Cyprain who hails from Umuabi in Udi Local Government Area of the state was nabbed following a tip-off.
“The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force through its operatives who acted on a well gathered and coordinated intelligence information had nabbed a notorious gun manufacturer and who has been manufacturing firearms and supplying to hoodlums.
“The suspect identified as one Eze Cyprian of about 69 years and a cripple from Umuabi in Udi Local Governnent Area of Enugu state was nabbed following intelligence information gathered about his nefarious activities and which brought about the storming of his hideout in the early hours by men of the Operation Puff Adder and Anti-cultism squad of the Enugu State Police Command,” the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement made available to Journalist101.
According to the statement, the suspect “has allegedly manufactured firearms which he usually supply to armed robbers/cultists. Suspect also has revealed how he manufactured arms and supplied to suspected armed robbers and to group of cultists in which one Chidera Nwaori was killed with sometime in June 2009 at Agbani Road Enugu.
“Suspect is now helping the operatives in their investigations. Recovered from him, includes one locally made double barrel gun pistol, four cut to size locally made guns, including one belonging to a notorious suspected cultist/murderer identified as one Ugochukwu Ogba said to be about 28 years and a leader of black axe confraternity and who had brought his gun to the manufacturer for repairs.
“Also recovered is six shirt barrel guns, various gun parts ready to be assembled, ten live cartridges, thirteen expended cartridges, electric welding machine, gas cylinders, drilling machines and clamps amongst others.”
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe has applauded the efforts of the operatives and had directed for full scale investigations and diligent prosecutions of suspects.
CP Balarabe further maintained that based on the expiration of the ultimatum given for those with unlicensed and unauthorized firearms to surrender it to the nearest police station that a committee from the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ has been set up to commence enforcement, arrest, recovery and diligent prosecutions of suspects arrested.
He revealed that operatives will be working on intelligence information to ensure that this is strictly enforced.
