Cross River Government Commends DSS for Intercepting Three GPMGs, Seven AK-47 Rifles
By: Zagazola Makama
The Cross River Government has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies for intercepting a cache of high-calibre weapons, including three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and seven AK-47 rifles.
The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, gave the commendation on Friday while inspecting the recovered weapons at the DSS State Headquarters in Calabar.
Odey, who visited on behalf of Gov. Bassey Otu, praised the intelligence operation that led to the interception of the weapons and the arrest of two suspected gunrunners.
He said the arrests would assist the DSS and other security agencies in uncovering the wider network behind the illegal arms trade and apprehending other individuals involved in the trafficking of weapons.
The deputy governor warned that the weapons could have been used to perpetrate violent crimes in Cross River and neighbouring states if they had reached their intended recipients.
He expressed particular concern over the potential security implications ahead of the forthcoming general elections, stressing the importance of preventing illegal arms from falling into the hands of criminal groups.
Odey also commended the growing cooperation among security agencies and the military, noting that improved intelligence sharing and operational coordination had strengthened the state's efforts to tackle criminal activities.
He said the state government remained committed to supporting security agencies in their efforts to protect lives and property.
The interception underscores the importance of intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration in disrupting illegal arms trafficking and preventing weapons from reaching criminal networks.
Further investigation is expected to establish the origin of the recovered weapons, their intended destination and the identities of other individuals connected to the suspected arms trafficking network.
