Sunday Southerner

Govt hails agency

The Cross River State Government has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies following the interception of three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), seven AK-47 rifles and other high-calibre weapons.

Deputy Governor Peter Odey gave the commendation on Friday after inspecting the recovered weapons at the DSS state headquarters in Calabar.

Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu during the visit, praised the intelligence operation that led to the seizure and the arrest of two suspected gunrunners.

He said the arrests could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending other individuals involved in the illegal arms trade.

The deputy governor also warned that the weapons could have been used to carry out attacks in Cross River and neighbouring states if they had not been intercepted.

He expressed concern about the possible security implications ahead of the forthcoming general elections, noting that the recovery had prevented weapons capable of causing serious harm from reaching criminal elements.

Odey also acknowledged the growing cooperation between the DSS, other security agencies and the military, saying the partnership had helped the state government strengthen efforts to tackle criminal activities.

He urged security agencies to sustain the collaboration as they work to prevent the movement of illegal arms and improve security across the state.