From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Operatives of Anambra State Police command have arrested eight suspects for various crimes.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Tochukwu Ikenga (SP) revealed this in a press statement on Friday.
Ikenga said that the suspects were nabbed for offences of kidnapping, cultism, illegal possession of a firearm, armed robbery.
He said that the operatives recovered a long gun, one locally made Barreta, ammunition, and a suspected stolen vehicle.
“Anambra Police working on a technology-driven investigation arrested two suspects (names withheld) in their criminal hideout in Nnewi. The arrest is in a follow-up of the reported case of a Kidnapped but later released victim on 19th August 2024 in Ihiala.
“The suspects confessed to being active participants in the crime and have already provided information to the police that is aiding the Investigation.
“Also, Police-led Joint Security Operatives, Aguata Base, acting on credible information in the early hours of Thursday stormed a criminal hideout of suspected vandals and arrested five suspects namely, Okorie Miracle, Joshua Ifeanyi Ekwa, Aneke Okorie, Mmesoma Faithful and Chukwuzekwu Mba,” he revealed.
Ikenga said that all the suspects who are males are from Umunze and are between the ages of 20 – 26 years, noting that locally made short guns, and vandalised Electricity Cables wire and tools, they used to commit the act were recovered from them.
He said that all the suspects confessed to the crime and currently assisting the police with information that will aid the arrest other gang members and buyers of the vandalised items.
“Furthermore, Operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SPACS) while on patrol on Friday by 9:30 am along Nise/Agulu road accosted one Chigozie Ejikeme ‘m’ aged 25 years a native of Abagana who drove suspiciously in an attempt to escape security check.
“The Operatives searched him and found one locally made Bretta pistol with one live 9mm ammunition concealed on his waist. The suspect, upon interrogation by the operatives, confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Secret Cult. The suspect vehicle, a black Lexus was also recovered,” Ikenga said.
The PPRO said that all the suspects will be charged to court after conclusion of the investigation.