… As I-G orders CPs to initiate actions against prohibited firearms***
Operatives of Operation Rainbow, a Plateau State Security Outfit, have cracked down on a notorious illicit drug peddling market located within the Government Secondary School, Gangare in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
During the operation, which was carried out on Sunday night, 16 suspected drug dealers were arrested.
DSP Ezekiel Azi, who led the operation disclosed this to the newsmen on Sunday in Jos, adding that it acted on credible information and tracked down the drug peddlers.
Azi explained that the investigation revealed that the illicit drug market operates daily within the premises of the school.
He said that situation attracted buyers and sellers from other parts of the city thereby posing serious threats to lives and property of innocent citizens.
” We carried out the operation with support from Neighborhood Watch and Vigilante groups yesterday night.
“We acted on credible information that on a daily basis, between the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sale of hard drugs and other illicit activities take place within the premises of GSS Gangare. The successful operation led to the arrests of 16 drug dealers,” he said.
Azi added that the suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
He, however, said one of the suspects, arrested with a military identity card, had been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
NAN reports that recently Gov. Simon Lalong had pledged to deal decisively with miscreants and criminal elements threatening the peace of the state under the influence of drugs or otherwise.
Lalong said that the state would remain a no-go-area for criminals, saying he would not rest until he defeated them.
In another development, the Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate appropriate actions against prohibited firearms.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Mba said the order was part of preparations for the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, as well as to curb the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country,
He said the idea was for the CPs to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual or group in possession of prohibited firearms
According to him, the directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.
He said the order was also targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country, contrary to the provisions of the Firearms Act.
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Mba said the I-G had also directed the CPs to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilance groups and quasi security outfits spread across the country.
The police spokesman said the idea was to ensure that their activities were in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.
“The I-G observed that several civil groups, vigilantes, quasi states and regional security outfits under various guise are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act. If unchecked, the trend will pose a serious threat to national security,” he said.
Mba said the I-G enjoined citizens to cooperate with the police in the enforcement of the order, adding that the aim was to ensure the safety of lives and property in the country.
