The Delta State Police Command has arrested a man accused of buying an illegal firearm through social media after he was caught with a Beretta pistol.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe, revealed this in a video shared on Tuesday. In the clip, he showed the recovered weapon and cautioned the public about the growing trend of acquiring arms illegally online.
While displaying items found in the suspect’s bag, Edafe pointed out that the weapon was a genuine Beretta pistol, complete with a magazine and two rounds of 9mm ammunition. He stressed that such firearms are strictly reserved for authorised security personnel.
The suspect, identified as Igbunu Evans from Sapele, Delta State, reportedly admitted during interrogation that he bought the gun via Snapchat. According to him, he ordered it from a “smoke vendor” on the platform and paid ₦450,000 to have it delivered.
Explaining why he got the weapon, Evans said it was for personal safety, claiming he wanted protection from potential threats like gunmen or kidnappers. However, he also confessed to being involved in internet fraud for the past three to four years.
Reacting to the case, Edafe noted that crimes often overlap, linking internet fraud, cultism, drug abuse, and illegal gun possession as part of a wider pattern where one offense leads to another.
He reiterated that it is illegal for civilians to possess such weapons, emphasizing that Beretta pistols are classified as prohibited firearms meant only for government security agencies. He added that self-defense is not a valid excuse for owning them.
The police confirmed that the suspect remains in custody and will be charged in court.
