A police officer, Shedrack Igwe, working in the armoury section of MOPOL Base 28, Umuahia, Abia State, has been arrested with five AK-47 rifles he allegedly stole from the armoury.

Igwe, a constable, was reported to have carted away the rifles from the armoury with the help of others, unnoticed.

He was later arrested in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State where he hails from.

He committed the act on March 2 after which he fled to Ebonyi state.

Two days later, a combined team of police officers from Abia and Ebonyi States arrested and moved him to Abia State Police Command for investigation.

The five AK-47 rifles were recovered from him in his home town.

Igwe is suspected to have stolen many more rifles which he may have sold out.

The officer was said to have used proceeds from the sales of the stolen rifles for a recent purchase of three new tricycles for commercial purposes. He gave the tricycles to his brother identfied as Ifeanyi Igwe.

An official in one of the security agencies in Ebonyi State said, “The development portrays lack of proper vetting and supervision on the side of the Nigerian police because the subject was just a constable and was not supposed to be manning a sensitive section like armoury in a security agency like the police.

“And the position was given to him without a proper examination of his character and supervision. Hence, the reason for the blames on the agency.”

Police spokesperson in Abia State, Geoffrey Ogbonna, declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

“I am in a meeting, I just pulled out to answer this call,” he said, without confirming or denying the story.

Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, however, confirmed the report.

“This thing is for Abia State, it is good you ask Abia State Police Command, we only assisted them. So, you will get the whole story in Abia.

“Yes, it is a combination of action and necessary things. Get Abia, Abia will give you the necessary things, we only assisted,” he said.

PT