A man aged 41 has been taken into police custody for illegal possession of a firearm and causing intentional damage.
he arrest happened in the forest of Agowie, located in the Orhiomwon local government area of Edo state. It has been disclosed that the suspect and several others who remain at large, arrived in the village from Benin city, heavily armed.
They proceeded to the cassava farms located in Agowie, linking Avbiugo, where they unlawfully harvested several tonnes of cassava. Reports suggest that the weapons were carried to prevent any attack from the farmers during their stealing spree.
During their operation, one of the farmers saw them and raised an alarm which alerted the vigilante team from Avbiugo, Evbowie, and Iguohan villages. The vigilante members immediately stormed the farm, and upon seeing the local security team, the suspects fled.
However, the suspect identified as Smart Amos was caught while trying to escape in the forest. He was found with a locally-made single barrel gun, and he disclosed that he came from Egor for the operation.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo state, CP Funsho Adegboye, had recently issued a warning against illegal possession of firearms and assured the public that the police would ensure that the people of the state can sleep with their eyes closed. The suspect, Smart Amos, is expected to be charged to court shortly.
