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MANZINI – The police have made a breakthrough in the arrest of two suspects in connection with a string of armed robberies.

These include the daylight breakin which took place at Pigg’s Peak Acting Mayor and businessman Absalom Ndlovu’s home, where nine firearms and a car, a Mercedes-Benz were stolen. However, the car was later recovered.

The two suspects were arrested by the police from the Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi) in Matsapha in the early hours of Monday. The suspects are aged 28 and 29 years and are from Nginamadvolo and Nsangwini, respectively. In the process of their arrest, a gun – 9mm pistol was recovered.

According to a source privy to information regarding the matter, the suspects have been on a rampage for a while as they were linked to a string of violent criminal activities, which took place mainly in the Hhohho and Manzini regions in the past few months.

Money

They are said to be behind the housebreakings and theft in various areas, together with forcing individuals to go to automated teller machines (ATMs) to withdraw money.

In some of the armed robberies, the source said they robbed dagga farmers.

The arrest was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications

Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, who thanked members of the public for assisting them while executing their duties.

She said through this assistance, on Monday morning the police managed to arrest two men in connection with a string of robberies – where peoples’ homes were broken into and various items were taken at gunpoint.

The police spokesperson added that one of the armed robberies which the suspected were linked to, included the break-in at Ndlovu’s home in March 2023, where nine guns and a Mercedes-Benz were stolen.

Firearms

She said in this case alone, the police managed to recover the car and three firearms so far.

She also highlighted that there were other armed suspects who were still on the run. She advised them to surrender themselves to the nearest police station.

It is worth noting that the guns which were stolen from the businessman’s home consisted of pump-action rifles and pistols.

A pump-action rifle is a firearm where the forend can be moved forward and backward in order to eject a spent round of ammunition and to chamber a new one.

Pump-action mechanisms are often regarded as faster than a bolt action and somewhat faster than a lever action, as it does not require the trigger hand to be removed from the trigger while reloading.