Police detectives in Asaba, Delta State, have killed six suspected robbers and kidnappers during a raid on their hideout.
The police also found an arms’ factory in Umunede, Ika North-East local government area of the state on Thursday.
The state command’s spokesman, ASP Famous Ajieh, confirmed to LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday that the arms’ factory served a dual purpose for both kidnappers and armed robbers who had been working with some of the community’s indigenes in recent times.
According to the police spokesman, hundreds of AK-47 rifles with over 3,000 locally-made guns and 6,000 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the raid, adding that the six suspects were killed when they attempted to escape from their hideout.
Disclosing that the detectives had mounted surveillance in the areas, the police spokesman however called on the residents of Umunede to be courageous and forward information on suspects to the police to check the activities of criminals.
Residents of Umunede had contacted the police when they saw unfamiliar persons around a fenced plot of land located on old Ekwuoma Road.
Sources said that suspected cultists and armed robbers were allegedly using the place to keep their weapons while strange persons were often seen in the area doing nothing.