Operatives attached to the Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad of the Edo State Police Command, have arrested a suspect, Kingsley Dele, for illegal possession of a Beretta pistol.

Spokesperson for the command, Eno Ikoedem, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspect is a 35-year-old medical doctor.

The spokesperson said, “In a decisive, intelligence-led operation underscoring its zero-tolerance stance against the proliferation of illegal arms, the Edo State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old suspect for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm.

“On 28th February, 2026, at about 1000hrs, operatives of the Command Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad (CIRRS), acting on actionable and credible intelligence, apprehended one Dr. Kingsley Dele of Obaretin Community. A discreet but swift operation led to the recovery of one Beretta pistol from the suspect. The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”

According to the command, the arrest is part of the sustained and strategic offensive championed by the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, against the circulation of illicit weapons which often fuel violent crimes across communities. 

The command viewed the illegal possession of firearms, regardless of status or profession of those involved, as a grave threat to public peace and would continue to respond with firmness and precision.

Mr Agbonika therefore assured residents that the command remains vigilant, proactive, and unrelenting in its mandate to safeguard lives and property, urging residents to keep cooperating with law enforcement through timely information sharing.