By Ikeugonna Eleke
Outgone Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Enaghe Obono Itam, said operatives of the Command in the state, working alongside other security outfits as partners in the recently launched security operation codenamed, ”Operation Udo Ga Achi”, had killed over 100 criminals.
The Commissioner said several camps belonging to gunmen had also been invaded and destroyed within the same period.
He stated this during a press conference at State Police Headquarters in Amawbia near Awka, where he also paraded some of the criminals who were caught alive.
He said: ‘Our interaction today is to highlight some of the notable breakthroughs recorded by the Anambra State Police Command on major incidents in the state within the period under review.
‘We have neutralised more than one hundred notorious criminals and successfully destroyed many criminal camps in Ufuma, Eziowelle, Achalla, Ogbaru and many other places in the state.
‘The Command operatives have also successfully arrested one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect, in Uruagu, Nnewi, and neutralised some of his gang members that were involved in the attack of police personnel attached to the Rapid Response Squad after a successful arrest on 3rd October 2024.’
Speaking on the recent death of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped on December 24 and found dead on February 6, the Commissioner said those involved in the act had all been apprehended.
He said: ‘Many of you are aware of the gruesome murder of Hon Justice Azuka, the Honourable State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly who was abducted on 24th December 2024 in Onitsha.
‘This serious incident motivated the Command to go the extra mile in intelligence gathering and discreet investigation.
‘In the early hours of 6th February, 2025, at the Second Niger Bridge, the Joint Security team comprising the police and AVG operatives, on a mission to rescue the abducted Honourable State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North, Hon Azuka, his lifeless body was regrettably found at the scene (May his soul rest in perfect peace).
‘Given the above, on the same day, the Command operatives in a joint operation with the Anambra State Vigilante operatives, acting on intelligence-led information, arrested nine suspects actively involved in this unfortunate incident and recovered two pump action guns.
‘One of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury in his leg during a gun duel with the police operatives.
‘The arrested suspects include: Ugochukwu Onuorah, aged 30 years; Ikemefuna Ossai, aged 20 years; Ikenna Orugu, aged 27 years; Chibuike Obiefuna, aged 19 years; Chinonso Olisa, aged 19 years; Chinedu Okoli, aged 21 years, David Ojini, aged 25 years.
‘The most notorious of them was one Peter Sunday, aged 20 years, with a big tattoo inscription on his chest, which read, ”No peace 4 d Government”.
He thanked the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his guidance and overall support, and also appreciated the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
