By Egufe Yafugborhi

MILITARY and security operatives jointly invaded Ekpan, Ebrumede and two other suburbs of volatile Uvwie council area, Delta state yesterday in an exercise to check the spread of small arms in the area.

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Fear stricken residents said soldiers and mobile policemen simultaneously trooped into the communities in the early hours of Friday in a random break in and search operation that targeted homes of suspected gun runners and violent youths, resulting in sporadic shooting in the area.

Brig. Gen. Farouque Yahaya, Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army and Alkali Usman, Delta state Commissioner of Police, CP, while parading 35 suspects arrested, a G3 rifle, one pistol and 20 rounds of ammunitions so far, described the exercise as successful, but some residents called it a flop.

CP Usman further disclosed that two occupants in a tricycle, popularly known as keke, were feared dead after running into a truck while trying to evade security checks in course of the operation.

Usman further said, “The exercise was carried out because of incessant complaints of criminalities in the area. Preliminary screening has taken place. We have been able to identify three of the suspects and released them.