Nigerian Police Kill Masterminds Of Attack On Station In Anambra, Recover 43 IEDs

The Anambra State Police Command has said that its operatives have killed the masterminds of the gunmen attack on police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the Uruagu Nnewi area of Anambra state in 2024.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who made this known during a press briefing on Monday at the Command Headquarters in Awka, said that operatives of the command between January 2024 till date also rescued 14 kidnapped victims, and arrested over 300 suspects.

The police operatives also recovered over 43 unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), over 100 different brands of arms, 40 stolen vehicles, motorcycles, 2937 ammunition of various types and arrested a notorious and wanted kidnapper identified as Ablo. 

Ablo had been terrorizing Ihiala area of the state and other areas in Enugu and Delta States.

Ikenga said, “Efforts at reducing Crime and Criminality are yielding positive results and you will agree with me that we are changing the narrative. 

“Over three hundred (300) suspects have been arrested for various crimes and we have secured over thirty (30) convictions and there are still ongoing trials. 

“We have rescued fourteen (14) kidnapped victims unhurt. We recovered over forty-three (43) unexploded improvised devices. 

“We have also recovered over one hundred  (100) different brands of Arms which include AK47, Pump action guns, locally made pistols, and others.

“We have equally recovered over two thousand, nine hundred and thirty-seven (2937) ammunition of various types.

“We have so far recovered about forty (40) stolen vehicles. We have also recovered different brands of motorcycles, amongst other exhibits in ongoing investigations.”

The police spokesperson further noted that some of the suspects involved in various disheartening and unfortunate incidents as well as unprovoked attacks on security operatives and unsuspecting members of the public witnessed 2024 were killed during shootouts. 

Others were arrested in the cause of separate operations by the Police and Joint Security forces, he added. 

Ikenga identified some of the breakthroughs of the command in 2024 to include, “Elimination of the Master-minds of the attack on Police Operatives attached to RRS in Uruagu Nnewi.

“The arrest of an 18 years old boy over a planned cult killing in Nibo that led to the recovery of one AK-47 riffle hidden on the roof of an apartment in Awka. 

“Destruction of so many criminal camps,  but the most notable is that of Nimo,  Njikoka LGA which led to the recovery of 19 unexploded devices. 

“Arrest of a notorious and wanted kidnapper, named Pablo, who has been terrorizing Ihiala, Anambra State and other areas in Enugu and Delta States.

“Arrest of two notorious cultists in Awka that led to the recovery of one Pump action gun, four live cartridges, Cutlass, Criminal Charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.”

Ikenga said the operatives also rescued two female victims who the suspects have forcibly abused sexually. 

He said during the year under review, the Command embarked on security advocacy visits to Local Government Headquarters and  established a Community Policing Committee to foster community engagement. 

According to him, “Individuals were also encouraged to take ownership of security, promote a culture of security and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, including the government and other organizations. These, notwithstanding, many other successes were recorded.”

Ikenga  said that in another development, operatives of the Command on Monday rescued three children allegedly stolen from their parents in Bauchi State and sold to another in Anambra State. 

“The Operatives also arrested four suspects including an illegal foster mother. The suspects confessed to the crime and narrated the role that each of them played. 

“One of the children has been identified and efforts are already emplaced to unite the child with his parents. 

“The Command wishes to use this opportunity to request that you assist to share the pictures of these innocent children for possible identification and unification with their parents. 

“We also have here with us, the suspects that murdered their brother and buried him in a shallow grave in a compound at Oko." 

“The deceased, Late Chibuzor Okeke, was accused of burglary and stealing. His brother Chidiebere Okeke and his cousin Emebo Ogochukwu caught him and beat him to stupor. 

“As a result, Chibuzor became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed him dead.  

“The two suspects, in order to cover up for the incident, dug a shallow grave in their compound and buried Chibuzor,” the police spokesperson added. 

The police operatives also recovered over 43 unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), over 100 different brands of arms, 40 stolen vehicles, motorcycles, 2937 ammunition of various types and arrested a notorious and wanted kidnapper identified as Ablo.