The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, John Abang, has renewed onslaught against crime and criminal activities in the State, vowing to make the commercially activated State free of crime as end of year beckons.
To demonstrate this, the Command’s Special Anti-Cult Unit, SPACS, which has been sufficiently mobilized by Commissioner Abang, has, within a week, arrested 103 suspects, some of which belong to different cult groups.
A statement signed by Superintendent Haruna Mohammed, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, revealed clinical details of the various arrests and alleged persons involved.
According to the statement, Abang’s commitment to stem the tide of cultism and other nefarious activities in the State prompted the Command’s SPACS to raid various hideouts where suspected cultists hibernate. Consequently, on July 21 at about 5am, following a tip off, officers of the Unit arrested a 20 years old Somtochukwu Onyebuchi of Iwu village, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of the State. The suspect who been on Police wanted list specialises in initiating teenagers into secret cults.
Preliminary investigation led to the arrest of 16 years old Okoliechukwu Elozanam and 15 years old Precious Nmamdi Joseph who were discovered as his accomplices, earlier initiated into Junior Vikings Secret Cult Confraternity, JVC .
Also, the Command disclosed that following actionable intelligence on July 23, at about 2:30am, 21 years old Chibuike Nwagozie, a member of Ayes Confraternity of Nnewi town was arrested. On interrogation, he led the police operatives to their hideout at Umudim Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area where five other gang members were arrested.
Similarly, 36 suspected cultists were arrested between July 16 and 17 at Ogidi, Amawbia- Ekwulobia-Nanka axis while 40 were arrested between July 18-20 at Ogbunike, Oko-Oraifite and Oba-Nkpor- Igbariam axis.
Not resting on his oars, the Commissioner squad went further and arrested 17 suspected cultists between July 21 and 23 at different locations in Oyeagu, Agulu-Awka and Abba-Abagana axis.
According to Police information, of the arrested suspects, 30 were screened out and released unconditionally. 20 suspects were charged to court, 28 placed under police supervision for being under aged while 25 suspects are undergoing investigation.
Exhibits recovered are 4 pump action guns, 1 double barrel gun, 20 expended cartridges,10 live cartridges, 11 machetes , 4 improvised bunkers for inhaling substances suspected to be cocaine, two chickens, one slaughtered goat for sacrifice and 95 wraps of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner who is full of thanks to “Ndi Anambra” for providing the Command with actionable intelligence, reassures the public of adequate protection with a call on all Ndi Anambra and residents alike to report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest Police Station or call police emergency number 07039194332 for prompt response.
The statement however, added that investigation is ongoing after which suspects would be brought to book.
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