Police Recover Pistol Hidden Inside Bread, Arrest Suspect

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a male suspect after officers recovered an illegally possessed firearm concealed inside a loaf of bread during a routine stop-and-search operation in Port Harcourt.

The incident reportedly occurred along Azikiwe Road near the Red Cross Junction, where operatives on routine patrol intercepted a vehicle and conducted a thorough search of all passengers and their belongings.

During the search, officers discovered a Browning pistol carefully hidden inside a loaf of bread belonging to one of the passengers, later identified as Braya Nanas, a resident of New Road, Borikiri, Port Harcourt.

According to a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, the firearm had no visible serial number, a detail that immediately raised concerns about its source, legality, and possible intended use.

She explained that preliminary investigation indicated the suspect was traveling as a passenger in the vehicle when he was intercepted, and that he later admitted ownership of the weapon.

Agabe further disclosed that the suspect allegedly told investigators he purchased the pistol in Okrika, an area near Port Harcourt, for the sum of ₦800,000, although the Command said verification of that claim was still ongoing.

The police described the concealment method as deliberate and sophisticated, noting that the weapon had been ingeniously hidden inside food packaging in what appeared to be an attempt to evade detection during security checks.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives involved in the interception, describing the discovery as evidence of the increasingly deceptive tactics used by criminal elements to transport illegal arms.

He urged residents to remain security-conscious and report suspicious movements, packages, or individuals to the nearest police station, stressing that community intelligence remains crucial to effective policing.

Adepoju also warned against the acceptance or transportation of unknown items, noting that unsuspecting members of the public could be exploited by criminals to move illegal weapons or contraband without their knowledge.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustained stop-and-search operations and intelligence-led policing aimed at curbing the circulation of illegal firearms and improving public safety across Rivers State.

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