Less than five weeks to the commencement of the 2015 general elections, the Rivers State Police Command has announced the revocation of the licences for the possession of licensed firearms in the state.
The revocation order, The Newswriter observed, may not be unconnected with the recent attack on supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at three different locations in the state, which resulted in the hospitalisation of no fewer than seven members of the party.
The recent increased activities of suspected cult groups in the state leading to the death of several people, especially in Khana, Abua/Odual, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state, may have also contributed to the decision of the command to revoke the licences.
The police, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt recently signed by the police public relations officer (PPRO), Ahmadu Muhammad, ordered members of the public, who are in possession of such arms and ammunition, to surrender such to the public armouries in their areas of jurisdiction.
The statement reads in part: “The Rivers State Police Command observes with grave concern the continued recovery of firearms and ammunition from individuals across the state. Individuals and associations in possession of licensed firearms are by this release informed that such licences have since been revoked.
“Accordingly, members of the public are ordered to surrender such firearms and ammunition to the public armouries in their area of jurisdiction. The Command will, henceforth, treat anyone arrested with such firearms as a criminal and be made to face the full wrath of the law, please”, it stated.
