The Rivers State Police Command has thwarted an alleged attempt to transport an illegal firearm in Port Harcourt, arresting a suspect after officers discovered a Browning pistol concealed inside a loaf of bread during a routine stop-and-search operation.

The unusual recovery, described by the police as evidence of the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by criminal elements, occurred along Azikiwe Road near the Red Cross Junction in Port Harcourt.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, the operation was carried out by operatives of the command acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.

The statement explained that officers intercepted a vehicle during a routine security check and conducted a thorough search of the occupants.

During the search, a Browning pistol was allegedly found ingeniously concealed inside a loaf of bread belonging to one Braya Nanas, a male resident of New Road, Borikiri, who was travelling as a passenger in the vehicle.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the firearm had no visible serial number, a development that has raised concerns over its origin and possible intended use.

The suspect was said to have admitted ownership of the weapon during interrogation, allegedly telling investigators that he purchased the pistol in Okrika for the sum of N800,000.

The police did not disclose the intended destination of the firearm or whether the suspect was linked to any criminal gang, noting that investigations are ongoing.

Reacting to the development, Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju warned that criminals were increasingly adopting deceptive methods to beat security checks, citing the concealment of the firearm inside a loaf of bread as a clear example.

He urged residents of Rivers State to remain vigilant and security-conscious, advising members of the public to be wary of suspicious persons, packages and activities within their communities.

The Commissioner also cautioned citizens against accepting, transporting or storing items whose contents they do not know, warning that such actions could unknowingly aid criminal activities.

He further appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that effective policing depends on active collaboration between law enforcement agencies and members of the public.

The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations aimed at preventing crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state. (The Guardian)

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