Four suspected hunters in the state were apprehended with firearms and ammo, according to confirmation from the Edo State Police Command.
The command revealed this in a statement that its spokesperson, Moses Yamu, provided to reporters on Saturday. However, Yamu characterized the numerous claims on social media that the suspects are armed herders as false.
According to him, the suspects who were apprehended and detained by Edo Security Network members have since been turned over to Ikpoba Hill Police Station agents. He identified the suspects as Jamilu Habibu, Shuttu Idris, Mujaheed Garba, and Yusuf Abdulkarim.
According to a spokesman for the command, the suspects are hunters from Doguwa in Kano State who are traveling to Uvbe Community in the state’s Orhionwon Local Government Area.
He stated that three Dane guns, six empty and three half-filled ammunition, four cutlasses, and two daggers were found on them when they were apprehended.
The statement read in part: “The Edo Command is aware of misinformation on the social media that four herdsmen armed with guns were arrested at Americanus Hotel on Osemwenkhae Street after Big Joe Motors Ramat Park, Orogbeni Quarters and handed over to the Police.”
“The command wishes to inform the general public that four suspects, Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu, intercepted by a member of the Edo Security Network with three Dane guns, six empty cartridges, three half-filled cartridges, four cutlasses and two daggers, were swiftly taken over by officers from the Ikpoba Hill Police Station.”
“Preliminary investigation reveals that they are hunters, not herdsmen. They were from Doguwa in Kano State, heading to Uvbe Community in Orhionwon LGA of Edo State.”
Yamu, who said the probe is ongoing, noted that Edo State Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika warned residents of the state from distributing incorrect information capable of causing undue conflict.
