By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti state, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, has warned owners of firearms in the state to surrender them within 14 days or face the wrath of the law.
Lakanu also promised a massive mop-up operation to get all illegal arms out of circulation, warning those stockpiling arms to disrupt the 2015 elections to have a rethink.
In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, the CP said: “For the avoidance of doubt, acquisition and possession of unlicensed arms is a serious offence that attracts severe punishment.
“However, the Commissioner of Police is giving a window of opportunity to any person or group of persons in possession of unlicensed arms to surrender same to the police while those whose arms are licensed are advised to bring them with the license for revalidation at the Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti within the next fourteen (14) days.
“At the expiration of this grace period, an intensive operation to mop-up illegal arms shall commence across the state and any person found with unregistered arm shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Lakanu, who added that with the lifting of ban on the electioneering campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections, enjoined politicians and their supporters to play the game by the rules and eschew any act that could cause breach of the peace.
He added: “While the Command is closely monitoring events in the political space within the state, intelligence revealed that some persons have acquired illegal arms with intent to disrupt the electioneering process and cause mayhem.”
Also, the Commissioner has noticed with displeasure the number of unregistered vehicles and motorcycles plying the roads in the state.
He warned all motorists, especially politicians and government officials using unregistered vehicles and motorcycles or with covered number plates to stop forthwith, saying that “the Command will not spare anyone caught in this brazen act of illegality, no matter the status in the society.”