The police command in Enugu State has detained a 25-year-old man over alleged unlawful possession of a locally made gun recovered on the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.

This is contained in a statement on Monday by the command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe.

Mr Ndukwe said the suspect was arrested on July 3 during a stop-and-search operation at Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area (LGA) on the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway near the Enugu State–Anambra boundary.

He said a concealed locally made double-barrelled pistol was found in the suspect’s possession during a search.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect boarded a Toyota Sienna minivan at Solution Park in Ekwulobia in Aguata LGA of Anambra, en route to Enugu, before he was intercepted and arrested by the vigilant operatives.

“Further investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the weapon and establish his possible involvement in other criminal activities, after which he will be arraigned in court.

“The arrest comes barely four days after the same operatives recorded a similar success on June 28, when they intercepted another suspect travelling in a tricycle and recovered a firearm during a border security operation.

“The successive recoveries underscore the command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence-led operations, and preventing the movement of illegal firearms into Enugu State,” he said.

The state’s commissioner of police, Mamman Giwa, commended the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism.

Mr Giwa reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain robust border security operations.

The commissioner urged residents to remain security-conscious and continue providing credible and timely information to support ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state.

(NAN)