Police Recover Pistol Hidden Inside Loaf of Bread During Stop-and-Search in Rivers

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a passenger after recovering a Browning pistol concealed inside a loaf of bread during a routine stop-and-search operation in Port Harcourt.

The unusual discovery was made along Azikiwe Road near Red Cross Junction, where police officers intercepted a vehicle and carried out a thorough search of its occupants.

The Command's spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko Agabe, disclosed on Friday that the firearm was recovered from a passenger identified as Braya Nanas, a resident of New Road, Borikiri.

According to the police, officers became suspicious during the search and eventually discovered the Browning pistol carefully hidden inside a loaf of bread.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that the firearm had no visible serial number, raising concerns about its origin and possible intended use.

ASP Agabe said the suspect allegedly admitted ownership of the weapon during interrogation.

"The suspect confessed that he purchased the firearm in Okrika Local Government Area for N800,000," she said.

She added that detectives have commenced further investigations to determine the source of the pistol and establish whether it is connected to any criminal activities or wider arms trafficking network.

Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, warned that criminal elements were increasingly adopting sophisticated and deceptive methods to transport illegal weapons and evade law enforcement.

"The discovery of a firearm hidden inside a loaf of bread demonstrates the increasingly deceptive methods employed by criminal elements to evade detection," the police commissioner said.

Adepoju urged residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious, advising members of the public to avoid accepting, transporting or storing packages whose contents they do not know, as doing so could inadvertently aid criminal activities.

He also appealed to residents to support security agencies with credible and timely information capable of preventing crime.

"Effective policing thrives on strong community partnership. If you see something, say something. Together, we can build a safer, more secure and crime-free Rivers State," he said.

The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state, assuring residents that investigations into the case are ongoing.