The Rivers State Police Command says it has begun the mopping up illegal arms acquired illegally by vigilante groups, hunters and other local security groups.
Nnamdi Omoni, the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, stated this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, has solicited the support of the public so as to assist the command with information that could lead to arms recovery.
He, however, said that if they fail to surrender their arms, the command will apply force to recover them.
According to him: “Where they fail to voluntarily turn in their arms, of course, force will be applied. We have been able to identify the Onelga Security Peace and Advocacy Council (OSPAC), vigilante groups, forest guards, hunters and local security outfits who are having prohibited firearms in their possession.
“It has been discovered that there are a large cache of arms in the hands of persons who are not supposed to possess them without lawful authority. This runs contrary to the Firearms Act.
“They should with immediate effect turn them in or such arms will be retrieved and where they fail to turn in those arms, they will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
