VINCENT ADEKOYE, Benin

The discovery is coming on the heels of the dismissal of 24 officers of the command, by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muktar Abbas.

Arms recovered by special squad of the Command led by men of the Area Command office, Adesuwa, Benin, included four world class assault rifles popularly called AK-47, four Lark rifles, two Double Barrel guns, two specially made British rifles and one Pump Action rifle.

Other items recovered from the black spot located at Egor Village, in Egor local Government of Edo State, included two police bullet proof vests and four bags of ammunition containing over 50,000 live bullets.

Commissioner of Police when contacted on the major raid told Daily Champion that his command will leave no stone unturned in putting an end to robbery operations in the state, though he informed that he was yet to be officially briefed on the content of the armoury.

However, a source at the office of the Benin Area Command confirmed that men of the Command invaded the illegal armory at Egor Village in the early hours of Tuesday following a tip off by a member of the public.

According to the source who is a senior officer, a special squad from the Area Command office was detailed to the area following the tip off.

"It was a difficult task, but we are all happy that we have achieved this major feat. The area before now is known to be a den of robbers and so when we got the information, we have to apply all tactics in order not to fall prey of some robbers who are out to eliminate police in the state.

"Finally after blocking all approaches, we stormed the black spot where the illegal armoury was located. It was located inside a thick bush in Egor Village. We condoned off the area and what we saw at the end of the exercise was very frightening. I want to believe that the gang of robbers operating the armory was building the place for the purpose of invading or over running the state in due course.

"No arrest have been made in connection with the discovery but I can assure you that very soon, we shall get those behind it," the senior police officer who pleaded anonymity disclosed.

Reports said one of the AK-47 Assault rifle recovered from the spot belonged to a police Inspector that was killed by a gang of rampaging robbers in Benin two weeks ago while another AK-47 rifle was said to belong to another Prison guard attached to the Campaign office of the former Minister of Solid Mineral, Elder Odion Ugbesia who was shot by another rampaging robbery gang in Benin three weeks ago.

It was gathered that the Command has commenced investigation to determine the source of the Police bullet proof vest recovered at the spot.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Abass said those officers dismissed were found guilty of various offences ranging from official misconduct to conspiracy and stealing. He added that while 15 were dismissed between January and May 2005, others were dismissed some weeks ago. According to him, some of them were demoted while others were simply shown the way out of the Force.