Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, has announced a proposed law to check land grabbing and speculation in the State.

Gwandu made the announcement on Tuesday in Benin while parading 87 suspected criminals arrested for various crimes.

He said‎ the law when finally passed by the State House of Assembly, will check the activities of Chairmen of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and reduce community clashes over land to the barest minimum.

The Edo Police boss who accused CDA Chairmen of graduating to become land grabbers‎ and speculators who are allegedly stockpiling arms, disclosed that the police have arrested 11 persons and recovered 11 English guns in connection community clashes in the State.

He further alleged that some community elders were involved in the land scandals, ‎adding that anyone caught under the expected law would be charged to court.

Gwandu also announced that the Command has bursted two bank robbery syndicates in the last one and half months, killing two of the robbers and arrested others in the process‎.

It would be recalled that the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, had previously proscribed activities of CDAs in the seven local government areas of the Benin Kingdom.

According to the CP, vigilant police operatives shot dead two members of one of the syndicates from ‎Delta State after they robbed a victim in one of the new generation banks in Benin and arrested another member of the gang who is now helping the police in their investigations.

He also disclosed that members of the other syndicate were arrested within three days after they robbed and shot an elderly woman who withdrew money from the bank in Benin.

A break down of the figure of arrest showed that 20 were arrested for armed robbery, 21 for kidnapping, 34 suspects for Cultism‎, three for murder, while nine suspects were arrested in connection with unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.

Among items recovered from the suspects were two AK 47 riffles, six AK 47 magazines, one locally made cut-to-size gun, one cutlass, two pump action guns, one Daylong motorcycle‎.

Mr. Gwandu, while explaining that police was empowered by law to investigate ‎cyber crime during stop and search operations, however cautioned policemen against arresting innocent citizens before establishing evidence against them.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.