by Chi Ibe

More than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and machine guns were recovered after a major crackdown against criminals in Rivers State on Friday.

“The weapons recovered from three vehicles hidden at a Mechanic Village in Ihugbo, along East-West Road, Ahoada, Rivers State, include two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) with 593 rounds of GPMG ammunition, eight AK-47 rifles with 1,635 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one G3 rifle with magazine, two dynamites with detonators and other explosives canes, two gas cylinders with welding accessories, a sledge hammer, one axe and 57 magazines,” a police statement in Abuja read on Sunday.

The Deputy Force Public Relations (DFPRO), Frank Mba, was quoted as saying in the statement that three vehicles including a Volvo S40 car, one Mercedes-Benz Saloon car and one Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) in which the weapons were concealed were also recovered and impounded by the police.

And although no one was arrested in connection with the recovered arms, the team were able to hinder a “planned robbery targeted” at a commercial bank in the state.

The police have said that “efforts to track down the criminals behind the aborted plan are being intensified as other incriminating exhibits linking the perpetrators to the weapons were also recovered at the scene by police operatives,” The Citizens reports.