The Rivers State Police Command has issued a one week ultimatum to all those in possession of illegal firearms to return them to appropriate quarters.
SP Nnamdi Omoni, the state police public relations officer, in an interview in Port Harcourt, said that the mop up of arms is not targeted at any particular group in the state.
He said the directive is from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to all states including the federal capital territory Abuja.
He added that only one vigilance group had so far surrendered their arms to the police, stressing that the essence of the exercise was for all who bear or desire to bear firearms do so legally.
Omoni said, “Only the Choba OSPAC vigilance group has submitted their firearms, the window is still open for other groups to turn in their arms before we go after them. The idea is nobody should bear arms without the proper procedure, if you have arms with you without following the proper procedure then you have fallen foul of the law and you will be dealt with accordingly.
“The Commissioner of Police in his magnanimity has decided to give them one week within which to turn in these arms, otherwise the IGP’s directive is clear that the order be enforced with immediate effect.”
