Nigerian police in Anambra state reported on Monday that they had killed the masterminds behind a 2024 gunmen attack on officers attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the Uruagu Nnewi area. The police also arrested over 300 suspects, rescued 14 kidnapping victims, and recovered over 43 unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during operations since January.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that in addition to the IEDs, officers seized more than 100 different brands of firearms, including AK-47s, pump-action guns, and locally made pistols. The operation also resulted in the recovery of 2,937 rounds of ammunition, 40 stolen vehicles, and motorcycles.
A notorious kidnapper, identified as Ablo, was arrested. Ablo had been terrorizing areas in Anambra, Enugu, and Delta states. His arrest was one of several key successes in Anambra’s ongoing crime-fighting efforts.
“Over 300 suspects have been arrested for various crimes, and we have secured more than 30 convictions with ongoing trials,” Ikenga said, emphasizing the effectiveness of the police operations in reducing crime. “We have also rescued 14 kidnapping victims unharmed.”
In addition to major drug and weapons busts, police operations led to the elimination of key criminal elements. One of the significant breakthroughs was the elimination of the masterminds behind the attack on the police RRS operatives in Uruagu Nnewi.
Other operations included the arrest of an 18-year-old boy in Nibo over a planned cult killing, the destruction of multiple criminal camps, and the recovery of 19 unexploded devices from a notorious camp in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area.
Two female victims of sexual abuse were also rescued, and two cultists were arrested in Awka, leading to the recovery of weapons and suspected hard drugs.
The police also made strides in community engagement by visiting local government headquarters and establishing a Community Policing Committee to enhance collaboration and improve public security.
In a separate case, police operatives rescued three children who were stolen from their parents in Bauchi state and sold to a new family in Anambra. Four suspects, including an illegal foster mother, were arrested in connection with the crime.
Ikenga further highlighted a tragic incident where two suspects were arrested for the murder of their brother, Chibuzor Okeke, who was killed after being accused of burglary. The suspects buried his body in a shallow grave to cover up the crime.
The Anambra Police Command continues its efforts to maintain public safety and combat criminal activities throughout the region.
saharareporters
