The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 68-year-old man and his 36-year-old son after operatives allegedly recovered four single-barrel firearms concealed inside a sack during a stop-and-search operation along the Igbogene–Tombia Expressway in Yenagoa.
Police authorities described the arrest as another breakthrough in the state’s ongoing campaign against the proliferation of illegal firearms and violent crimes.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, the suspects were identified as Tibi Friday, 68, from Futoro Gbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, and his son, Oyabrade Tibi, 36.
Mohammed said the duo was intercepted at about 10:30 a.m. on July 6 by officers attached to the Anti-Vice Unit while travelling in a commercial tricycle to Abua in neighbouring Rivers State.
During the search, operatives allegedly discovered four single-barrel guns hidden inside a sack and covered with sticks in what investigators believe was an attempt to conceal the weapons from security personnel.
“The Bayelsa State Police Command under the leadership of CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor has recorded another significant operational breakthrough with the arrest of two suspects in possession of four single-barrel guns,” the police spokesman said.
Following the recovery, the suspects were taken into custody while the firearms were secured as exhibits.
The Command disclosed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yenagoa, where detectives have commenced a detailed investigation to determine the source of the firearms, their intended destination, and whether other individuals or criminal networks may be connected to the alleged offence.
Police authorities noted that preliminary investigations remain ongoing and assured residents that all necessary steps would be taken to unravel the circumstances surrounding the recovered weapons.
The Command reiterated that curbing the circulation of illegal firearms remains one of its top operational priorities, warning that the unchecked movement of illicit weapons often fuels armed robbery, kidnapping, cult-related violence and other organised crimes.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yenagoa, for discreet investigation to ascertain the source of the firearms and identify any other persons connected with the offence,” Mohammed added.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue partnering with security agencies by volunteering credible and timely information capable of preventing crime and improving public safety across Bayelsa State.
The latest arrest comes amid sustained security operations by police formations across Nigeria aimed at intercepting illegal weapons before they are used for criminal activities. Security experts have repeatedly stressed that intelligence-led policing, routine patrols and stop-and-search operations remain vital tools in disrupting the movement of illicit arms.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the suspects possessed any valid licence covering the recovered firearms, while no formal charges have yet been announced as investigations continue.
