The Edo State Police Command on Saturday announced that another set of four hunters who came from Kano State were intercepted by operatives of the Edo Security Network with arms and ammunition when they arrived in the state.

The state police command announced this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, on Saturday night, saying the statement became necessary in order to dispel the misinformation on social media that four herdsmen armed with guns were arrested at a hotel in the state and handed over to the police.

The command disclosed that contrary to the report, those apprehended were hunters and not herdsmen, while also giving their names as Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu.

The command added that when they were apprehended, items recovered from them were three Dane guns, six empty cartridges, three half-filled cartridges, four cutlasses and two daggers.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command is aware of misinformation on social media that four herdsmen armed with guns were arrested at Americanus Hotel on Osemwenkhae Street after Big Joe Motors, Ramat Park, Orogbeni Quarters and handed over to the police.

“The command wishes to inform the general public that four suspects: Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu, intercepted by a member of the Edo Security Network with three Dane guns, six empty cartridges, three half-filled cartridges, four cutlasses and two daggers were swiftly taken over by officers from the Ikpoba Hill Police Station.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that they are hunters, not herdsmen. They were from Doguwa in Kano State, heading to Uvbe community in Orhionwon Local Government Area of Edo State. Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing.

“The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, wishes to use this opportunity to discourage residents of the state from circulating wrong information capable of causing unnecessary tension.” (Sunday Tribune, but headline rejigged)