Delta police illegal firearm arrest as suspect is nabbed for purchasing a Beretta pistol through social media in a major crackdown

The Delta State Police Command, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Asaba, Delta State, arrested a suspect for allegedly purchasing a prohibited firearm through social media, following the recovery of a Beretta pistol in his possession.

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The Delta police illegal firearm arrest was confirmed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, who disclosed the development in a video shared online, where he displayed the recovered weapon and warned against the growing trend of illicit arms acquisition.

SP Edafe revealed that the suspect, identified as Igbunu Evans from Sapele in Delta State, was found with a Beretta pistol, a magazine, and two rounds of 9mm ammunition.

He stressed that the weapon is strictly reserved for authorised security agencies and classified it as a prohibited firearm under Nigerian law.

“This is a Beretta pistol, not even fabricated. It has the magazine and two 9mm ammunition,” Edafe stated, warning that illegal possession poses a serious threat to public safety.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted to purchasing the firearm through Snapchat, claiming he paid N450,000 to a vendor he described as a “smoke seller” who delivered the weapon to him.

He also claimed the weapon was acquired for self-protection against “unknown gunmen or kidnappers,” but further confessed to involvement in internet fraud for several years.

SP Edafe described the case as a troubling example of how criminal behaviour escalates, linking internet fraud, cultism, drug abuse, and illegal arms possession as interconnected threats.

He noted that the Beretta pistol remains strictly restricted to security agencies, stressing that no civilian is legally permitted to own such a weapon under any guise of self-defence.

The Delta police illegal firearm arrest highlights growing concerns over the use of social media platforms for illicit trade, particularly the sale of dangerous weapons.

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The suspect is currently in custody and is expected to be charged to court upon completion of investigations.