An 18-year-old undergraduate of the Abia State University, Divine Ibeneme, has confessed that he acquired a locally made gun to protect himself from armed robbers and cultists on campus.
Ibeneme, who was paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, in Umuahia, said he was under threat by some group of cultists who once robbed him of his phones and money for allegedly wearing a bangle that belonged to their cult group.
He added that he opted to acquire a gun to prevent a repeat of such intimidation.
Ibeneme said, “Due to the rampant armed robbery attacks and killing of students in my school, I decided to purchase a gun for self defence because when the bad boys approach you, they will tell you not to talk and if you do, they will try to kill or behead you.
“That was why I wanted to work for my safety. I bought the gun for N7, 000 in Rivers State. But unfortunately for me, as I was travelling back to school after purchasing the gun, my bag was searched by police officers at a check point along the road, they found the gun in my bag and arrested me.”
The suspect, who hails from Umulolo in Imo State, denied being a member of any secret cult group.
While insisting that he had no intention of hurting any student with the gun, Ibeneme maintained that he wanted to use it to protect himself from cultists.
“I just got the gun so that if they (cultists) harass me again, I will show them what I have for them so that they will leave me alone. I haven’t killed before and I don’t have any intention of killing,” he said.
However, the commissioner of police, said that the Safer Highway Patrol Team Abia State 011 had arrested Ibenem during a stop and search operation along Ofeme axis of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway.
He said, “The suspect was found with a locally made double-barrelled gun and one live cartridge. He could not give a satisfactory account of the firearm and ammunition. He is helping the police in its investigation and will soon be arraigned in court.”
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