By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Operatives of Edo State Police Command are apprehensive over their own safety and that of the public, as they continue to lose custody of sophisticated guns and high caliber ammunitions in the state.
The operatives’ fear was heightened when two fully-loaded AK-47 rifles assigned to two policemen were allegedly stolen at a guest house in Uwasota area, Benin City on June 17, 2019.
It was gathered that one Sgt Uzor Emmanuel had gone to the guest house with a lady to unwind after he closed from duty that fateful day.
He allegedly raised an alarm about 2a.m that two of the three rifles he took into his room had been stolen before he returned from the toilet.
It was scooped that the missing AK-47 rifles were officially given to his team members, Cpl Micheal Akharamen and Constable Jimoh Aliu.
The duo were said to have handed the guns to Sgt Uzor Emmanuel as their team leader since they could not return to base to sign them off that evening.
It was gathered that the officers are personnel of the state-own security outfit codenamed “Operation Wabaizigan.”
Owner of the guest house, Mr. Obodo Otuya said Sgt Uzor Emmanuel’s claim was questionable and appealed to the police command for a discreet investigation as his hotel was not a police armory.
He explained that from the brief of the gateman and record of the guest house, Sgt Uzor Emmanuel, a regular customer, checked in with one AK-47 rifle and a lady.
Otuya said his manager, gateman and salesgirl had been arrested, quizzed and granted bail after two weeks by Investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Benin City.
It was further gathered that the embattled Sgt Uzor Emmanuel had reported himself at the police command headquarters, Benin City.
Source close to the Command disclosed that Sgt Uzor Emmanuel, Cprl Michael Akharamen and Constable Jimoh Aliu have been detained at the state police headquarters, Benin City.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident upon contact, saying: “I am aware of that case. Investigation is ongoing.”
Some operatives have expressed worries over incessant cases of the command losing custody of arms and ammunitions to criminals.
An officer who was visibly saddened by the news of the missing two rifles and ammunition told our reporter: “each time I hear of such powerful guns like AK-47 taken away from our custody by any means, my heartbeat increases.
“I know the dangers the society faces when such deadly weapon is in the wrong hands.
“Even as a senior police officer I do not assign firearms to officer whose temperament is unpredictable.
“We are the soft target before civilians anywhere, anytime. My brother, it is worrisome.”
Investigation revealed that at least 12 police rifles and ammunitions have been reportedly snatched or taken away from police custody in recent past.
Among reported incidents in which the command lost custody of arms and ammunition were the attacks on Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters in Owan East local government area of Edo State on March 11, 2019 and Ogba Zoological Gardens, Airport Road, Benin City, last year.
In the two separate attacks, seven cops including a DPO and a pregnant woman Sgt were killed by the attackers who also took away four AK-47 rifles and one Berretta pistol.
