Police arrest 103 for murder, robbery in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested 103 suspects for alleged robbery, murder and cultism in different locations of the state.
Image maker of the command, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said that the suspects were arrested in various towns and communities between December 20, 2018, and January 9, 2019.

He said that items recovered from them included two guns, five rounds of live ammunition, two machetes, two axes, and other weapons. He explained that the arrests were in continuation of its efforts to stem the tide of crime and ensure safety of life and property in the state.

Mohammed said that the command’s special anti-cultism unit, FSARS and divisional police headquarters had, during the period, carried out coordinated raids on criminal hideouts and black spots.

He said: “Between December 20, 2018, to date, the state command through its Special Anti-Cultism Squad has arrested a total number of 100 suspected cultists from various parts of the state as follows: In Umunachi, four suspected cultists were arrested. At Onitsha, 17 suspects were arrested. Umoji and Umokpu Awka recorded 15 suspects. In Oko, four suspects were arrested.

“Others include, Ifitedunu, where eight suspects were arrested. In Awada/Ekwusigo, three suspects were arrested. In Ezi-Eliase, one suspect arrested. In Ihiala, four suspected cultists/murder suspects were arrested. At Aguleri axis, five suspects were arrested. At Okpuno/Abakaliki Street, 10 suspects were arrested. In Awka, six suspects were arrested.

At Umuawulu/Nibo/Nise, five suspects were arrested. At Umoaba Anam, one robbery suspect /cultist was arrested. At Awka North, five suspects were arrested. At Nkpor/Ogidi area, 12 suspects were arrested.”
Mohammed said that out of the 100 suspects arrested, 27 have confessed and have been charged to court, 37 were screened and released while 36 others were undergoing investigation.

He said that Emekwite, 26, and Afunwa, 25, from Obosi area of Idemili North LGA of the state, were arrested by detectives from FSARS, Akwuzu, after they attacked Linus Emeka and snatched his Lexus SUV with no. ENU 779 NX at gunpoint, and recovered one Baretta pistol with six rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

Mohammed further stated that detectives attached to FSARS, Awka, in conjunction with a vigilance group in Ebenebe, arrested Chinwuba of Ebenebe who had been terrorising residents of the area and recovered from him a cut-to-size single-barrel gun and one expanded cartridge.