Anambra Police Recover 20 Bombs, Others, Harvest More Hoodlums
Speak on Proposed Nationwide Protest
By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra State Police Command has recovered no fewer than 20 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), several riffles and other exhibits in several recent operations in different parts of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, disclosed this during a Press briefing on Friday, also paraded 13 suspects arrested in different parts of the state for kidnap, armed robbery and cultism and crimes.
This is coming barely 14 days after the Police Commissioner announced the arrest of over 200 suspects for various crimes as well as recovery of several guns and over 1,644 bullets within two months of his assumption of office as the State’s Police Commissioner.
He said the suspects include: Emeka Okolo (aged 29, from lhiala, Anambra State); Uchenna John (aged 21, from Ebonyi State); Victor Iniukpong (aged 31, fro Akwa Ibom State), who were arrested while trying to disconnect the tracker in a car of a victim who they kidnapped on July 15 at Nimo community, where they also shot one person dead before the abduction.
Other suspects according to the Commissioner are: Nnatu Chiedozie (aged 43, from Enugu Ukwu, Anambra); Onyeka Okoye (aged 22, from Uruagu Mbaukwu in Anambra); and Ndubuisi Emmanuel Abate (aged 19 from Ayamelum, Anambra), who were also arrested for a kidnap-related crime perpetrated in Obosi on July 21; while Emeka Okotor (aged 18, from Awka); Chidubem Ejiofor (aged 18, from Awka); Chigbo Nwankwo (aged 20, from Awka); and Chijioke Onyibor (aged 18, from Awka); were arrested for armed robbery and cult-related crimes in Awka.
Also paraded were Chigbogu Favor (aged 33, from Ihiala, Anambra); and Mbanefo Udeze (aged 36, from Oraifite, Anambra), who kidnap people from Anambra State and take them to Asaba where they have their hideout.
CP Itam also paraded Chigaemezu Okafor (popularly known as England, aged 26, from Mbano Imo State); and Uchenna Nwaiwu (aged 20, from Ngor Okpala, also in Imo State), who have masterminded several kidnap incidents in different parts of Anambra State; as well as Ugochukwu Francis (aged 36) who has been involved in series of kidnapping and armed robbery cases in Anambra State with his syndicate.
He revealed that the arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects, and also announced that the police operatives and other sister security agencies recovered some improvised explosive devices, IEDs, (numbering up to 20) in different parts of the state, where the gunmen strategically positioned them for detonation.
According to him, the recovered bombs include: Attacking Mile IED (recovered from ESN Camp at Ugbenu, close to Isuariocha in Awka North LGA.); Attacking Mile IED (recovered from Aguluezechukwu ESN Camp); six Light-and-Spark IEDs (recovered from Ogbunka ESN Camp); nine Light-and-Spark IEDs (recovered from ESN Camp); and two Light-and-Spark IEDs (recovered from a vehicle abandoned by ESN along Ogbunka axis).
CP Itam reassured that the Command would sustain the tempo of operations to restore peace to every nook and cranny of the State.
“I also want to use this opportunity to assure Ndi Anambra and all those engaged in legitimate businesses in the State of our preparedness to sustain the tempo of our operations to restore peace to every nook and cranny of the State.
“On behalf of all law enforcement and security agencies in the State, I want to say that we understand the enormity of trust bestowed on us to protect life and property.
“Despite obvious systematic challenges, the officers and men of the command are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all well-meaning citizens of the state and I am confident to report that we are winning the war against crimes and criminalities in the state,” he said.
Making references to the recent media outburst on alleged several kidnap incidents by suspected Fulani Herdsmen around the Dubai Estate in Awka; the Police Commissioner, who noted that the Command is already conducting investigations, however, sternly warned against circulation and peddling unverified security-related information in the media, which, he said, creates panic and may jeopardize police investigation.
He advised that anyone who has security-related information should always reach out to the police for proper action and response.
Speaking on the proposed nationwide protest, CP Itam who stated that Police would not stop people from protesting, however, warned that any form of violence or any violence protest that threatens the fragile peace in the state would not be tolerated, as some people may attempt to hijack the protest to perpetrate crimes or victimize others, including those who are not involved in the protest.
“I want to state clearly that the Police is mandated to regulate assemblies and protect peaceful protesters who are identified, as well as their routes and or locations of interest. But, the command would not tolerate any violence or any protest that threatens the fragile peace in the State,” CP Itam maintained.
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