Octogenarian arms peddler arrested in Edo

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

An 80-year-old arms peddler, Madam Comfort Izeomwen, has been arrested and paraded by the Edo State Police Command.

The octogenarian was arrested following the arrest of her alleged accomplice, Stella Omobude, 48, who was caught with 32 live cartridges by the police.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, who paraded the suspects along with 71 other suspects, said based on credible information, operatives/tactical units of the command raided Evbueren village, along Benin/Auchi road, where Stella was arrested.

Her confessions led to the arrest of the octogenarian at Ekae village, Benin City, with 68 live cartridges recovered from her.

Ezike disclosed that a mop-up operation also led to the arrest of Monday Obaseki and Ita Ehiozefe, aged 38 and 40 respectively.

Speaking with journalists at the command headquarters, the octogenarian suspect confessed that she sold each cartridge to her customers at the rate of N250.

“I sell to them at N250, but I don’t know what they do with it. That is what I do for a living,” she confessed.