Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Tactical Squad (STS) in Onitsha, Anambra State has arrested and paraded the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Best Aluminium Company, Chief Pius Nweke for illegal possession of fire arm and ammunitions.
Pius Nweke was arrested in Awada area of Onitsha in his Lexus Jeep with a covered platform number and was taken to Central Police Station Onitsha, where he was paraded with the a short gun and 10 round of ammunitions.
Investigation revealed that it is only the President Muhammadu Buhari that can grant license for short guns in Nigeria. It was also gathered that after the parade Pius Nweke was moved to Abuja for further interrogation and investigation.
Meanwhile, kinsmen of the CEO of Best Aluminium in Abba Dunukofia Local Government Area of the stste in a statement signed by Engr. C. Anaekwe, the President General Abba Town Union accused Prince Arthur Eze of masterminding the arrest and parade of Pius Nweke because of the land dispute between Abba and Ukpo communities.
The kinsmen stated that Chief Nweke was abducted by the Nigeria police on Friday at about 12 noon on his way to his office in Onitsha and that his where about is not known, apart from his pictures in handcuffs in the social media with background of a police station .
”Abba community has been in dispute over ownership of a large expanse of land commonly called “Agu-Abba” with her neighbouring Ukpo community for which the Nigerian police was enlisted against the Abba community by Prince Arthur Eze.
Since June, 2019 citizens of the Abba community have been subjected to police intimidation, harassment and victimization with not less than 19 citizens of the Abba community charged to Courts for offences ranging from obstruction to armed robbery.
One of his kinsmen has this to say “I read how the Police based in Anambara just before they got the East Command established, arrested Best Aluminium.
Best Aluminium in early 90s, may be at his 20s has the biggest Aluminium company in Nigeria. He has affected more Human lives positively than many Billionaires in South East and beyond.
Abba Community are laying Head on his shoulder and he carried the Community with dexterity of a Man with communal responsibility.
Well because he is Igbo Industrialist, Police stopped him and arrested him at Onitsha.
They searched and found his Gun, but it is funny that Onitsha Police Command did not investigate such man to know that the Pistol he had was given to him by IGP.. after Tafa Balogun recommended him for Prohibited Fire Arm permit to the President, President Obasanjo gave the approval for the Police to give him a Revolver, which means the License he is carrying has the authority of Mr. President.
Questioning such is not good for our image, both for the former IGP Tafa Balogun and the President that signed it to him, President Obasanjo.
Tarnishing an industrialist like Best Aluminium is like tarnishing the likes of OTEDOLA, ADENUGA of GLO, ALHAJI DANTATA and many others.
The Man wasn’t found in battle field or at Robbery scene or constituting nuisance, he wasn’t carrying unlicensed Arm.
Nigeria is trying to get up from Covid, we need all this Industrialist in this Nation to help and push back the economy, there won’t be need to antagozine any of them, no matter the Tribe or Tongue.
Set the Man free with Apology and if there are local squabbles, the State and Stake Holders will step in and resolve it the better way.
At present, two out of the five persons arrested and arraigned on 18th December, 2019 in the Magistrate Court, Umudioka are still in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“The Abba community hereby places the world on notice that should anything happen to Chief Pius Nweke, the Nigerian police under IGP Mohammed Adamu and Prince Arthur Eze are to be held responsible. The Nigerian police should not reduce itself to a private thug. President Mohammadu Buhari is called upon to save Abba community from the Nigerian police” it stated
The Anambra State Police commissioner, CP John Abang confirming the arrest and parade of Chief Pius Nweke said police from STS, Onitsha while on a routine patrol arrested him with Bareta pistol.
“Police from IGP STS in Onitsha, while on a routine patrol at Awada area saw a Lexus Jeep whose plat number was covered, stopped it and searched the vehicle and the occupant, in the process a baretal short gun was found on him with 10 rounds of ammunitions.
On interrogation the person in the car was one Chief Pius Nweke and he was taken to custody and subsequently moved to Abuja for further investigation ” he said