Delta political tension: Police, NDC supporter disagree over recovery of AK-47

ASABA — Differing accounts have emerged over the recovery of an AK-47 rifle during a tense political gathering involving supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the National Democratic Coalition, NDC, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

While the Delta State Police Command said its operatives recovered the rifle during the rescue of Collins Egbara from a mob, an NDC supporter who claimed to have witnessed the incident said youths at the scene found the weapon on Egbara and handed it to the police.

Police spokesman, SP Edafe Bright, said in a statement on Monday that the Command had received intelligence suggesting that the September 18 rally could lead to a confrontation between supporters of the two political groups.

According to Edafe, attempts to contact the rally organisers initially proved unsuccessful. However, both groups submitted written notifications on September 17, less than 10 hours before their planned rally at Angle Park, Warri.

He said the police advised the groups against using the proposed venue and that they subsequently went their separate ways.

Edafe said CP Samuel Erale ordered the deployment of police personnel to the venue from 5am on September 18 as part of efforts to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

He added that as tensions increased during the rally, additional patrol teams were deployed under the “Operation Show of Force”, which eventually restored calm.

How police said rifle was recovered

According to Edafe, police patrol teams at about 11:30am saw youths mobbing Egbara close to an old building in Orumarho community.

He said the youths had severely beaten Egbara before police officers intervened, rescued him and took him for medical treatment.

The spokesman said Egbara would be questioned after he became stable, adding that investigators would determine his possible connection to the recovered rifle.

Edafe also dismissed reports that the weapon was handed over to police by people at the scene.

“Reports that the gun was handed over to the Police by some persons are false, as the ownership, possession and recovery of the gun is currently subject to an ongoing investigation,” he said.

He added that Egbara would face prosecution if the investigation established his connection with the weapon.

Supporter gives different version

Efemena, who described himself as an Obi/Kwankwaso supporter, challenged the police version of events.

“We delivered the AK-47 to SP Harry Arrey of the Quick Response Squad in Warri. We found it on the thug, disarmed him and handed it over. The police did not discover it in any building search,” he said.

He also called for transparency from the police over the circumstances surrounding the recovery.

“Let them tell the public the truth about how the gun was recovered,” Efemena said.

Amid allegations being circulated on social media, CP Erale assured that the police would conduct the investigation without compromise.

The commissioner also urged political actors to inform the police ahead of rallies so that adequate security arrangements could be put in place.

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