Hyacinth Chinweuba/Richard Ginika Izuora
The Anambra State Police Command has paraded arrested robbery and murder suspects in the state, with assurances that the Command would not relent in its fight to make the state crime free.
According to the Commissioner of Police in the State John Bassey Abang, “On the 9/3/2020 at about 3:45pm, following intelligence report,Puff Adder operatives in conjunction with the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) arrested at Nanka, one Angus Chukwebuka Nwankwo ‘m’ aged 30 years and Chidiebere Omeyi ‘m’ aged 20 years respectively.”
According to Abang, the suspects had on 27/2/2020 lured a Facebook user simply identified as Willswags from Owerri in Imo State to Nanking and after robbing the victim of his belongings the suspects allegedly killed and dumped his body inside the bush at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Commissioner said the suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime and led police to the bush in Nanka where the decomposing body of the victim was found and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
One Tecno phone, property of the victim was recovered as exhibit from the suspect while the case under is still under investigation and suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Abang, also recalled that on the 13/2/2020 at about 9:17pm, gunmen suspected to be car snatching syndicate attacked at gunpoint one Chioma Henry ‘f’ at Okpuno Awka
and snatched her Toyota Camry car.
Following the report,Police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) swung into action and arrested three suspects who led the operatives to their hideouts in fegge where the vehicle was recovered along with a locally made double barrel pistol.
The case is under investigation after which suspects would be charged to Court for prosecution.
Similarly, on the 04/3/2020 at about 10pm,Police surveilance team attached to Uli Division in conjunction with Campus Anti cult unit arrested one Godswill Chinedu ‘m’ a 300 level student of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State.
Suspect allegedly conspired with two others now at large and beat an Okada rider who carried him to his lodge at Umuama Uli to stupor after a fracas.
However, not done yet with the beating,the suspect also ran into his Lodge and returned with One locally made double barrel pistol loaded with one live cartridge and a battle Axe before he was overpowered and arrested.
Meanwhile, all the exhibits were recovered from the suspect while the Okada rider was rushed to the hospital for medical attention and is responding to treatment.
Police said the under is under investigation and effort is ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects in order to bring them to justice
In another development in order to further stem the tide of cultism in the State,the Command has during the period under review, through its Special Anti Cult unit carried out raids at various locations where suspected cultists hibernate and arrested some suspects.
Giving details of the operations, the Commissioner said, “On 26/2/2020 at Obosi/ Nkpor axis, 18 suspected cultists were arrested while on the 27 /2/20 at Ihiala /Uli axis, 20 suspected cultists arrested.
Also, on the 28 /2/20 at Awka /Amansi axis, 08 suspected cultists arrested, while on the 01/03/2020 at Onitsha /Nkpor axis, 5 suspected cultists arrested.”
He said further that, “On the 02/03/20 at Oba/Nnewi axis , 20 suspected cultists arrested and on the 03/03/2020 at Nsugbe/Nkwelle-Ezunaka axis , 8 suspected cultists arrested.
“On the 04/03/20, at Ogbunike/Abagana axis , 15 suspected cultists arrested, while on the 05/03/20, at Abagana/Abba axis, 8 suspected cultists arrested and the 06/03/2020 at Amikwo Awka, 6 suspected cultists arrested.
He said from all the raids carried out so far, a total number of 108 suspects were arrested, 34 suspects were screened out, 20 suspects were charged to court while 54 suspects out of which 21 are under aged are undergoing investigation after which they would be charged to Court for prosecution.
Meanwhile, exhibits recovered in their possession includes ten (10) locally made pistols, Eleven(11) machetes , Nine (09) cartridges, nine (09) battle axes, one (01)fabricated gun, three (03) cult regalia, eight (08) daggers, three(03 ) barrets, three (03) swords, seven (07) improvised bunkers for inhaling substances suspected to be cocaine etc.
Also,the Commissioner revealed that on the 9/3/2020 at about 12:30am,following intelligence report,Police operatives attached to Ozubulu division arrested one David Otto of Ogbadibo LGA and Joseph Donga of Buruku LGA all ‘m’ of Benue State respectively.
Suspects were caught dressed in complete Army Camouflage and have all confessed to be fake soldiers voluntarily.
In a related development ,Police operatives attached to 3-3 division Onitsha also arrested one Ejike Chigbata ‘m’ of Otuocha in Anambra East LGA of Anambra State.Suspect obstructed the Police from performing their lawful duty and claimed that he is a serving military officer by presenting a military ID card which turns to be fake.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include two sets of Army camouflage uniforms and one fake ID card.
All cases are under investigation after which suspects would be charged to Court for prosecution.
Also, on the 5/3/2020 at about 6:30pm,Police Surveillance Team attached to B Division Awka in conjuction with UNIZIK Security arrested one Sunday Thankgod ‘m’ aged 18 years of Opobo-Nkoro in Rivers State.Suspect was arrested with a bag containing two locally made single barrels short guns,five cartridges and dry leaves suspected to be cannabis Sativa.
Suspect is assisting the Police with useful information that would aid investigation after which he and his accomplices will be brought to justice.
Consequently,Police patrol team attached to bridge head division while on patrol at Niger street by service lane, bridge head Onitsha also arrested a middle aged man with a bag in his possession containing two thousand (2000) pieces of live cartridges.I have directed SARS to take over the case.
The suspect is assisting the Police with useful information about the motive for bringing such cartridges and how he got them after which he would be charged to Court for prosecution.
In another development, on the 10/03/2020 at about 11:50pm, following a distress call,Police Patrol team attached to Oko division in conjunction with Ndiokwu vigilante group arrested one Ikechukwu Madukanze of Umunze aged 23years and Okudiri Ogubodo aged 26years from Enugu State respectively.
Suspects hired a Motorcyclist to take them to Ndiowu village Oko but on reaching a lonely junction ,they brought out a dagger and stabbed the motorcyclist at the back and snatched his motorcycle.
Meanwhile,the motorcycle was recovered and victim rushed to the hospital for medical attention.Case under investigation.
Again, on the 07/03/2020 at about 10pm,following intelligence report,Police Surveillance team attached to Oko division arrested one Oyinye Ugochukwu ‘f’ aged 21years and student of a tertiary institution in Oko.
Suspect who was allegedly pregnant went to into labour in the toilet ,delivered a baby girl and threw the baby through the window and left.
Meanwhile,the baby was rescued and rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention and is presently responding to treatment along with the mother who was equally sick.
However,when questioned on why she abandoned her baby,the suspect claimed she doesn’t know the biological father of the child. Police said case is under investigation.
From the totality of the cases recorded so far,a total of 122 suspects have been arrested out of which 25 were charged to court for prosecution,34 screened out and released unconditionally, while 63 others are undergoing investigations.15 Firearms and over 2000 live cartridges were also recovered, said Abang.
Abang noted that one major factor responsible for the overall successes recorded by the Command was the support of the good people of Anambra State who were very cooperative with the security agencies as well as robust inter agency collaboration.
He therefore urged “Ndi Anambra”and his colleagues in other security agencies to sustain this level of cooperation at all times, adding that with recent approval by the Inspector-general of Police IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to recruit Special Constabulary in various Communities to complement the efforts of the police will further enhance safety and security not only in Anambra State but the entire Nation as well.
