MAN APPREHENDED IN DELTA FOR PURCHASING A FIREARM THROUGH SNAPCHAT

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By:TAJUDEEN AMINAT

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a suspect accused of buying an illegal firearm through social media after he was caught with a Beretta pistol.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, revealed this in a video shared on Tuesday. In the clip, he showcased the recovered weapon and cautioned the public about the growing trend of acquiring arms unlawfully.

While displaying items found in the suspect’s bag, Edafe stated that the weapon was a genuine Beretta pistol, complete with a magazine and two rounds of 9mm ammunition, emphasizing that such firearms are restricted to authorized security personnel.

The suspect, identified as Igbunu Evans from Sapele in Delta State, reportedly confessed during interrogation that he purchased the gun via Snapchat. He said he ordered it from a vendor on the platform and paid ₦450,000 for its delivery.

When asked why he obtained the weapon, the suspect said it was “for safety purposes… against any unknown gunmen or kidnappers.” However, he also admitted to engaging in internet fraud, revealing he had been involved in such activities for “three to four years.”

In response, Edafe connected the case to a broader pattern of criminal behavior, explaining that “internet fraud, cultism, abuse of illicit substances, and now gun possession” illustrate how “one crime leads to another.”

He stressed that it is illegal for private individuals to possess such weapons, noting that the Beretta pistol is a prohibited firearm reserved for government security agencies, and cannot be legally held by anyone claiming self-defense.

The police spokesperson stated that the suspect is presently in custody and will be arraigned in court.