The Edo State Police Command has apprehended a 65-year-old herbalist and 21 other individuals for their involvement in armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful assembly within the state.
According to the statement released in Benin by the command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, the herbalist and one other individual were apprehended on January 31 by the command’s surveillance team.
The PPRO revealed that their arrest followed an investigation into cases of unlawful possession of firearms and armed robbery, leading to the recovery of a pump-action gun from them.
Nwabuzor added that two additional individuals suspected of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and armed robbery were also apprehended by the police surveillance team.
He stated that the gang utilized a Mercedes GLK and a black Lexus SUV for their armed robbery operations to deceive their victims.
The spokesperson for the command further mentioned the recovery of a pump-action gun, four cut-to-size locally made guns, and nine live cartridges from them.
He noted that the suspects confessed to having carried out numerous robberies between Benin and Auchi in Edo.
Similarly, the police spokesperson mentioned the arrest of 13 individuals suspected of participating in a protest over banknotes on February 15, while five others were detained for involvement in cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
Following an investigation, the suspects are set to be prosecuted.