The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the theft of two rifles belonging to officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The rifles were stolen from NSCDC officers assigned to guard the Airtel office in Yenagoa. Acting on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, officers from the command’s tactical unit, Operation Puff Adder, launched a manhunt for the stolen weapons.
According to police investigations, one of the suspects, 23-year-old Tijani Nuhu from Kaduna State, allegedly stole the rifles and hid them inside a dustbin in the Yenezue-Epie area of Yenagoa. He then contacted another suspect, 25-year-old Happy Friday from Edo State, to help find a buyer.
However, things took a twist when Friday reportedly took the rifles without Nuhu’s knowledge and tried to sell them himself. He later reached out to a known contact in Lagos, identified as Ernest Lagos, also known as “Five Stars,” to negotiate the sale.
Police say the suspects attempted to sell the rifles for between ₦40,000 and ₦200,000.
Vigilante groups in the area, who had been informed of the search, picked up on the suspects’ movements and passed information to the police, helping with the arrests and recovery of the weapons.
Other suspects arrested include Bello Mohammed (27) from Zamfara State, Ebi Collins (26), and Godspower James (37), both from Bayelsa State.
Commissioner Idu confirmed the incident and praised the quick action of the police and the role of vigilante groups in tracking down the suspects.
