The proliferation of arms in the South-East has led to an increase in violent crimes such as kidnappings, armed robbery, killings, cultism, and several others. Despite recoveries made by security agencies, this menace has continued to elicit worries among agitated residents, just as stakeholders are calling for swift action to stem the tide, LAWRENCE NJOKU reports. When the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, on May 3, this year, paraded 195 suspected criminals, he displayed 68 assorted guns and rifles recovered from them.
A breakdown of the recovered firearms and ammunition showed that there were 10 AK-47 rifles; one sub-machine gun, and 57 locally fabricated guns; 67 live ammunition of different calibres, as well as 78 live cartridges. The arrests were made from March 8 to April 10, 2024. In Anambra State, the police recovered 15 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS); 14 Ak-47 rifles; locally fabricated rocket launchers; machine guns, and various rounds of ammunition among other devices.
In the same month, over 300 arrests were made, including those related to cult issues. The immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye, in March this year, shortly after the command recovered a loaded Ak-47 rifle with double magazines containing 50 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, as well as IEDs, deplored the ease with which criminals parade heavy weaponry.
He further noted that part of the fresh challenge in crime fighting in the state was that criminal.
