Police intercept suspect carrying 36 live cartridges during Edo stop and search
What began as a routine police stop along a busy road in Benin City quickly turned into a tense security operation after officers discovered live ammunition hidden inside a passenger’s bag.
According to the Edo State Police Command, operatives arrested a 36-year-old man after recovering 36 live cartridges during a stop-and-search exercise along the Benin–Auchi Road.
Police identified the suspect as Richard Gabriel from Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The command said the incident happened on May 23 at Guobadia Junction when officers attached to the Ikpoba Hill Area Command intercepted a mini bus carrying passengers from the Benin–Auchi bypass toward Ring Road in Benin City. Officials said tension rose after three male passengers suddenly abandoned their belongings and attempted to flee from the vehicle during the inspection.
Officers reportedly chased the fleeing men and managed to arrest Gabriel while others escaped the scene. “The officers swiftly gave chase and successfully apprehended one of the fleeing suspects,” the police said in a statement.
A search carried out on the suspect’s bag later led to the recovery of the cartridges concealed inside, according to the command.
Police have not yet disclosed where the ammunition was being taken or what it was allegedly meant for. Details surrounding the escaped suspects also remain unclear as investigations continue.
The latest arrest comes at a time when security agencies across different states have intensified stop-and-search operations due to rising concerns around kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, and illegal weapons movement.
In Edo State, police authorities have continued to face pressure over growing security concerns linked to violent crimes and armed gangs operating across some communities and highways.
Roadside stop-and-search operations have therefore become more frequent, especially along major transport routes connecting Edo to neighbouring states.
“Routine checks are still one of the fastest ways to intercept illegal arms movement,” a security source familiar with the operation said.
The recovery of live cartridges without a firearm has also raised questions investigators are now expected to pursue, including whether the ammunition was linked to a wider criminal network or intended for delivery elsewhere.
Security analysts say ammunition trafficking often attracts less public attention than firearms smuggling, even though both are closely connected within criminal supply chains.
Across Nigeria, security agencies have repeatedly warned that illegal arms circulation continues to fuel violent crimes, particularly kidnapping and cult-related attacks in parts of the country.
The Edo State Police Command said efforts are ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects connected to the incident. Authorities also indicated that the suspect currently in custody will face prosecution after investigations are completed.
For residents around Benin City and nearby communities, incidents like this continue to reinforce fears about how easily ammunition and weapons move across public transport routes without immediate detection.
And while the arrest may be seen as a small operational success for the police, the bigger concern remains how many similar movements pass through highways unnoticed before security checkpoints intervene.
