Femi Makinde , Osogbo

The police in Osun State have arrested a manufacturer and a dealer of illegal firearms around Ile Ife.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye , who paraded the suspects, a 72- year – old Adebowale Aderibigbe ( dealer) and Akeem Nasiru ( manufacturer) before journalists in Osogbo on Friday said their arrests were made possible following a tip -off.

The CP said three guns and 350 unexpended cartridges were recovered from the septuagenarian while nine guns were recovered from Akeem , who said he was a blacksmith.

Adeoye said , “ We were able to arrest this manufacturer and the dealer of illegal firearms following a tip – off . Police detectives working on tip off arrested them on July 4 around Ile- Ife.

“ I am happy because , with this arrest , we have been able to cut off supply of firearms to the criminals . We are still investigating to know more and to arrest all those involved in this illegal trade. ”

Although the octogenarian confessed that he had no license to sell arms and ammunition , he said he was a supplier to the Obafemi Awolowo University which he claimed contracted the job of supplying ammunition to its security unit.

Pa Aderibigbe, when asked where he usually got the ammunition from said one Igbo man supplied him but he said that he did not know the shop of the man nor his name.

He said, “ I supply the cartridges to OAU in fact, they gave me papers to supply them . The university gives the cartridges to their security personnel, who use them for security purposes and also to kill bats.

“ The policemen have gone to my house to search for the papers given to me. I don’ t sell to criminals. A doctor gave me one of the guns to service for him and that is where I get my livelihood from. I am not a criminal.

Akeem also said that he had no license to manufacture guns but he explained that he was a blacksmith and that he inherited the job from his father.

Akeem also said that he did not sell his products to criminal not involved in crime .
He said he once worked as a ‘cracker ’ at the OAU.

Punchng