Anambra Police arrest 122 suspects, recover 15 firearms

Anambra State Police Command has arrested over 122 suspects and recovered 15 firearms within a period of two weeks

The suspects, included, armed robbers,  murders,  cult members,  car snatchers and others.

In a  statement made available to Nation Update today by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, the Command recorded a huge success at the week under review.

The Commissioner of Police,  CP John Abang,  said that out of 122 suspects,  25 were charged to court for prosecution, 34 screened out and released unconditionally, while 63 others are undergoing investigations.

The CP further said that 15 Firearms  and over 2000 live cartridges were also recovered.

According to the state police boss, 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.

“I urged “Ndi Anambra”and my colleagues in other security agencies to sustain this level of cooperation at all times. It is my belief 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.

“We are indeed in an era where Community Policing remains the vogue and the people we are serving continue to demand for excellent service”, he said.

Giving further details , the CP said that on March 9th ,following intelligence report,Puff Adder operatives in conjunction with the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) arrested at Nanka, one Angus Chukwebuka Nwankwo , 30,  and Chidiebere Omeyi, 20,  respectively.

“Suspects had on February 27th lured a Facebook user simply identified as Willswags from Owerri in Imo State to Nanka. After robbing the victim of his belongings, suspects allegedly killed and dumped his body inside the bush at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“Meanwhile, 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. Corpse deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

“Consequently, One Tecno phone, property of the victim was recovered as exhibit from the suspect. Case under investigation and suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, he assured.

Abang added that it would be recalled that on February 13th , gunmen suspected to be car snatching syndicate attacked at gunpoint one  Chioma Henry , a female 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 Onitsha where the vehicle was recovered along with a locally made double barrel pistol. Case under investigation after which suspects would be charged to Court for prosecution.

“On the  March 4th , Police surveillance team attached to Uli Division in conjunction with Campus Anti cult unit arrested one Godswill Chinedu , 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. Case under investigation and effort is ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects in order to bring them to justice, CP emphasized.

Abang explained that 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  suspects within the State.

“On  February 26th  at Obosi/ Nkpor axis, 18 suspected cultists were arrested. On the 27th at Ihiala /Uli axis, 20 suspected cultists arrested. On the 28th at Awka /Amansi axis, eight suspected cultists arrested.

0n the March 1st  at Onitsha /Nkpor axis, five suspected cultists arrested. On the next being 2nd  at Oba/Nnewi axis , 20 suspected cultists arrested.

“On the March 3rd  at Nsugbe/Nkwelle-Ezunaka axis , eight suspected cultists arrested. On the March 4th, at Ogbunike/Abagana axis , 15 suspected cultists arrested. On the March 5th, at Abagana/Abba axis, eight suspected cultists arrested.

“On the March 6th  at Amikwo Awka, six suspected cultists arrested. 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.