Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have recovered three Beretta pistols concealed in a sack of unripe plantains at a motor park in Benin City, with a suspected cult member arrested in connection with the consignment.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, disclosed this on Wednesday, saying the sack was abandoned at Flight Transport Services, Akpakpava, after an unidentified man presented it for waybill to Benue.

According to him, police operatives became suspicious after the sack was abandoned at the motor park, prompting a search which uncovered the three Beretta pistols concealed beneath the unripe plantains.

Daaor said the discovery triggered an investigation by the command to unravel the identity of the person who brought the consignment to the motor park and establish its intended destination.

He explained that through technical intelligence and sustained investigation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit traced and arrested a 27-year-old suspect, identified as Andrew Friday, at Akpakpava on August 7.

The commissioner said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect was responsible for sending the sack containing the firearms, adding that his arrest had provided the command with useful leads into the circumstances surrounding the movement of the weapons.

Daaor further disclosed that the suspect confessed to sending the sack and also admitted membership of a Secret Cult Confraternity, as the investigation continued into his alleged involvement in criminal activities.

He assured residents of the command’s determination to sustain intelligence-led operations against cultism, illegal possession and movement of firearms, kidnapping and other crimes, urging members of the public to provide useful information to security agencies. (Nigerian Tribune)