Anambra Govt Arrests 35 Suspects For Drug Peddling, Extortions, Other Offences
35 persons have been arrested by Anambra State Government Joint Taskforce (JTF) On Security for various crimes
The suspects were arrested at different locations by the men of Special Joint Task Force ( JTF) led by officials of Operation Clean and Health Anambra (Ocha Brigade) in collaboration with the Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG.
Speaking on the arrests, the Public Relations Officer, PRO of Ocha Brigade, Mr Anthony Agbafune, informed that the suspects were arrested in connection with drug peddling and smoking, extortion of money from motorists, picking pocket, one chance and other offences.
Agbafune expressed the agency’s determined to keep the state healthy and clean for residents.
He pointed out that those persons were terrorizing the state and environment, stating that while some of them involved in robbing innocent citizens, selling hard drugs, (mkpurumiri) to youths, and stealing, others engaged in extorting money from motorists.
He said that the governor has given them mandate to rid Anambra state of bad eggs polluting the environment.
“We have the mandate of the governor to sanitize the state and make it habitable,” he said.
Agbafune also stated that the suspects will be transferred to the appropriate authority for arraignment.
“We will soon move those suspects involved in drugs to National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDELA, Police and Ministry of Justice for necessary actions. Our job is to pick the defaulters, document them and move them to the appropriate agency for necessary action” he stated.
He expressed the agency’s determination and commitment towards eradicating the state of those nuisance in line with the governor’s dream of a clean and healthy Anambra state, adding that the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade, Mr Celestine Annere, is committed to living up to the mandate of the agency.
He said that in the one year he has been piloting the affairs of the agency, a lot of positive things have happened in terms of clearing Anambra of bad eggs.
Speaking to journalists, one of the suspects, Mr Mike Agara from Taraba state, said he smokes indian hemp but does not sell it.
He revealed that the Indian hemp found in his room does not belong to him, but to his brother who sells the drug.
Ikene Eze, from Enugu state, also admitted that he deals in mkpurumiri and other other such illicit drugs, informing that he gets his supplies from Imo State.
According to him, he got involved in the drug business because he has no job, instead of becoming an armed robber.
He said he sells to those big truck drivers because they use them when driving at night to avoid sleeping.
Chima Abigwe from Imo State, said he was arrested when he was sleeping in an open place because he does not have a home in Onitsha.
Chukwuemeka Chukwunoso from Anambra state, said he was arrested while walking to his house around 11 p.m because there were no vehicles at that time of the night.
Onyekachi Atu, from Abia state, said he was picked up on the road while moving to his house at a late hour.
On whether he was the only person on the road when he was arrested, he said he was arrested because he was not doing anything there.
Chukwurah Micheal, from Anambra state, who admitted to engaging in stealing people’s money and property in vehicles appealed for forgiveness.
He said he was involved in the act because he is jobless.
