The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra Police Command

  • Three robbery suspects held in Anambra

    Three robbery suspects held in Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command has arrested three armed robbery suspects in Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area.

    They are Monday Onoja, Sanusi Muhammed and Kenneth Nwokpu.

    Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, who made this known yesterday, said the suspects were apprehended by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at Awkuzu.

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    He said one automatic pump action gun, and items suspected to have been stolen, including a white Mercedes Benz C300 4matic car, ash Lexus 350 car with Reg No: 669 CY and two two exotic phones were recovered from the suspects.

  • Police in Anambra arrest 151 suspected cultists

    The Police in Anambra say they have arrested 151 suspected criminals and cultists following raids on criminal hideouts in the state.

    SP Haruna Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra State Command made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.

    According to him, the police raid took place between April 1 and April 16, 2019, and the command recovered weapons and substances suspected to be cannabis sativa.

    He explained that the raid was part of the command’s strategy to stamp out cultism and ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

    The PPRO further explained that the command’s Special Anti-Cultism unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Divisional Police headquarters carried out the coordinated raids.

    “Between April 1 and April 16, the State Command has arrested 151 suspected cultists from various parts of the state.

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    “We arrested 16 suspected cultists at Okija, 12 arrested at Nanka, 11 suspects at Nkwelle and nine arrested at Ogidi area.

    “Our men equally arrested eight suspects in Awka, 14 suspects from Ajali /Oko, 18 suspects were also caught from Enugwu Ukwu /Nimo/Nise, 12 suspects arrested at Fegge/Awada.

    “The command also arrested 13 suspects from Inland Town in Onitsha, seven from Achalla, four suspects from Urum and three from Ogbunike while 15 were arrested at Amawbia and nine from Ukwulu /Ukpo respectively,” he added.

    Mohammed stated that the some exhibits were recovered including three machetes, four axes, two berets and some quantities of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.

    He noted that out of the 151 suspects arrested, 40 suspects have confessed to the crimes and charged to courts, 62 suspects were screened and released.

    He said 20 suspects were underage and placed under supervision while 29 others are undergoing investigations.

    The command’s image maker appealed to the public to report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or call the emergency number 07039194332 for prompt response. (NAN)

  • Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    The Anambra Police Command says it has taken steps to enforce the ban on all activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, saiid this while addressing newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.

    Umar warned that any person or persons involved in the activities of the proscribed group would be arrested and charged to court.

    He defined terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate, coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment in order to seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structure of a country.

    “The Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 (As Amended) provides minimum punishment of 20 years and maximum of death sentence depending on the offence.

    “Meanwhile, Section 37 Sub-section (1) Criminal Code Act, Cap 77 provides that any person who wages war against the state in order to intimidate or coerce the President or State Governor is guilty of treason and is liable to on conviction to be sentenced to Death.

    “Therefore, I enjoin the general public to know that participating in the activities of this group is illegal and would amount to treasonable felony,” the police boss said.

    He warned the general public to desist from aiding and abetting members of the group, urging them to provide useful information to the Police to help arrest fleeing members of the outlawed group.

    “The Command also wishes to reiterate that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of the motivation; the Command urges the good people of Anambra to come together to sustain the existing peace in the state.”

    The commissioner assured that the police would continue to safeguard lives and properties of all citizens in the state in line with the vision of Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

    He appealed to parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to steer away from the group.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Army has declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Mr John Enenche.

  • Police prosecutes 80 cultists in Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command said it prosecuted 80 people for cultism related crimes between January and April.

    CSP Christopher Bassey, Commander of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SPACS) told newsmen in Onitsha on Sunday that all the command has also secured 80 convictions.

    Bassey said that the convicted cultists terrorised Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi, Awada and Onitsha communities, adding that many suspects were set free after being counseled.

    “We are able to send about 80 notorious cultists to prison by the help of the courts while scores were counseled and released.

    “I think parents should monitor the company their children keep because investigations showed that those arrested were influenced by suspected criminals, who provide them with hard drugs, guns and money,” he said.

    Basey advised youths to shun cultism, warning that the police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the act.

    According to him, we will not spare anyone because the hard drugs they take influence them into constituting nuisance, and sometimes, commit violent crimes in the society.

    The commander, who denied that the police torture suspects, said they were rather screened for prosecution or counsel when arrested.

    “We advise them to realise that the crime is not beneficial and could send them to prison or take their lives,’’ he stressed.

  • Police warn criminals to steer clear of Anambra

    Police warn criminals to steer clear of Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command, has warned criminals operating in Onitsha and its’ environs to leave the state or face the consequences.

    Mr Abubakar Yahaya, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Onitsha Area Command, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Onitsha.

    Yahaya, who was newly deployed to the command, said the new operational order was to nab the criminals at their base of operation.

    “We have a new operational order for the ‘ember’ months which is to occupy all the black spots until the criminals relocate.

    “They must relocate to other areas or give up criminality,’’ Yahaya said.

    The area commander, who was formerly in charge of training in Kwara, said that the police was employing community oriented policing as part of strategies to rid the state of criminality.

    “I am mindful of Onitsha and know the challenges inherent. There are areas of improvement to fortify the police achievements in security,’’ he said.

    The police boss solicited the cooperation of the public by providing useful information that would lead to the arrest of criminals.