. . Parades Suspected Cultists, Robbers
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP John B. Abang, has debunked rumours that the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano, ordered the release of the chairman of Eke-Awka Market, Hon. Emeka Agunmadu, from the Police custody, emphasizing that investigation was still ongoing.
CP John Abang, who stated this last Monday at the Police Command’s Headquarters, Amawbia, while parading some suspected cultists, armed robbers and a fake policeman, noted that the charge against Hon. Agunmadu was a bailable offence and that the matter was being investigated after which the suspect would be charged to Court.
Abang recalled that on the 7th August, 2019 at about 6.47am, Puff-Adder operatives, in conjunction with a patrol team attached to “Operation Kpochapu”, while on a stop and search duty at Upper-Iweka in Onitsha, intercepted a bus with registration number UKP- 108-ZU, coming from Asaba and after a thorough search, they recovered a Police Beretta Pistol with breech number AO-4909Z loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition, one expanded ammunition and six different handsets in possession of one Sunday Onyema aged 35, from Orlu, Imo State.
Abang said, ‘Discreet investigation by Police detectives attached to the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) further led to the arrests of five additional suspects who belonged to the same syndicate at different locations within Orlu LGA of Imo State; Nsukka in Enugu State and Oba in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.
He gave their identities as Felix Chukwujiama, aged 33, of Oba, Anambra State; Oluchukwu Anyafule, aged 32, of Oba, Anambra State; Ikechukwu Ibezim, aged 35, of Nkwelle, Orlu, Imo State; Ikechukwu Igwe, aged 35, of Orlu, Imo State and, Emeka Mama, aged 34, of Nsukka, Enugu State, respectively.
He said that exhibits recovered from the suspects, in addition to the Berretta Pistol earlier recovered included, One English Chief Revolver Pistol; One locally made Double Barrel Pistol; Five live cartridges and one 9mm live ammunition.
According to the CP, on the 08/08/2019, at about 4:30pm, following intelligence report, police operatives attached to the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), arrested at Ihiala, one Hassan Abuka, aged 33, of Otukpo, Benue State, fully dressed in police camouflage uniform and bearing a DSP rank, as well as one Ismaila Ahmed, aged 37, also of Otukpo, Benue State.
He said the suspects who specialized in impersonating the police to deceive their victims, snatched a Toyota Corolla Car, Reg. number Lagos, AGL 357 FC, from a yet to be identified victim in Lagos and were geolocated at their hideout in Anambra State.
‘Exhibits recovered in their possession include the snatched vehicle and additional vehicle number plate; Lagos FKJ 701 FR.
‘All the suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime and are assisting the police with useful information that could aid investigation after which they would be charged to court for prosecution,’ Abang said.
He further disclosed that between 10/08/2019 and to date, the Command had arrested 85 suspected cultists at various locations within the state as follows,
‘From all the raids carried out so far, a total number of 85 suspects have been arrested out of which 36 were screened out. 10 suspects were charged to court; ten 10 were placed under police supervision for being under aged, while 29 others are undergoing investigation,’ Abang said.
He gave the exhibits recovered in their possession as 6 machetes, three 3 berets, 3 improvised bunkers for inhaling substances suspected to be cocaine, 3 axes, 1 dagger, one 1 sword and some quantity of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.
The CP further appreciated Gov Obiano for his support to law enforcement agencies in the state and urged Ndi Anambra to sustain the tempo of cooperation with the security agencies to sustain the existing peace and orderliness in the state.
