The police in Ogun State have arrested a teenage boy with an AK-47 rifle in a forest.
The boy, according to the police, gave his name as Mohammed and claimed to be a herdsman.
Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that the suspect was arrested following information received by the Divisional Police Officer, Imeko Divisional Headquarters.
The PPRO added that the police were told that two young Fulani herdsmen were sighted at CAC Oha forest Iwoye-Ketu in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area with AK-47 rifles.
He said: “Upon the information, the DPO quickly mobilised his men, other stakeholders like the hunters, vigilante men, So-Safe Corps and stormed the said forest.
“After hours of combing the forest, one Mohammed was seen hiding in the bush with one AK-47 rifle and was promptly arrested.
“The arrested armed boy is strongly suspected to be a member of kidnap syndicates who has been terrorising the area for quite some time now.”
Oyeyemi, however, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
The Commissioner of Police also directed that the entire forest be properly combed with the view to apprehending other members of his gang, the spokesman added