The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 68-year-old man and his 36-year-old son for allegedly possessing four illegally acquired single-barrel firearms in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The suspects, identified as Tibi Friday from Futoro Gbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area and his son, Oyabrade Tibi, were apprehended during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by operatives of the Anti-Vice Unit along the Igbogene–Tombia Expressway.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the arrest occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on July 6 while the father and son were travelling in a commercial tricycle bound for Abua in neighbouring Rivers State.
According to the police, officers intercepted the tricycle for a routine search and discovered four single-barrel guns concealed inside a sack covered with sticks, allegedly in an attempt to evade detection.
Mohammed described the arrest as another operational success recorded under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, in the command’s efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms and violent crimes across the state.
He added that the suspects and the recovered firearms have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yenagoa for further investigation.
The police said detectives have commenced a discreet investigation to determine the source of the firearms and identify other individuals who may be linked to the alleged offence.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the spread of illegal weapons and maintaining public safety, while urging residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information to assist security agencies in combating crime across Bayelsa State.