Harvest of criminals as Abia police parade 100 robbery, kidnap suspects, cultists
* Recover 105 arms, ammunition
By Steve Oko
It was a bad season for criminal elements in Abia State as the state police command, Monday, paraded no fewer than 100 suspected robbers, kidnappers and cultists.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters Bende Road Umuahia, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Ene Okon, said 105 different kinds of arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
He said the arrest of the suspects was part of the gains of the re-branded community policing in the state which he said was paying off.
According to him the feat was recorded within the past three weeks.
Wawa News Global reports that majority of the suspects were in their late teens and early 20s.
The CP commended members of the public for their cooperation with the police in the fight against crime.
Mr. Okon who acknowledged a drastic decline in child trafficking in the state attributed the feat to surveillance by anti-human trafficking squad of the command as well as collaboration with relevant government agencies which volunteered the list of registered maternity homes in the state.
The police boss commended the State Government for its continued support especially the recent donation of patrol vans to the command.
He equally thanked the Inspector General of Police for his support, saying that Operation Puff Adder is yielding tremendous success in the state.
The CP who said police officers and men in the Abia were in high spirit warned criminal elements to steer clear from the state or brace up for tough times.
Meanwhile some of the suspects include : one Chibuike Ngemena, 20, a 200 Level Linguistics student of Abia State University Uturu ; and Emmanuel Obinna, a 400 Level Geography student of same university.
According to police, the duo attacked one Ruth Ihediwa, a 200 Level Nursing Student of same university in her hostel at Miracle Lodge and were attempting to rob her before they were nabbed following an alarm.
Police said one locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered from them.
But later in an interview with Wawa News Global, Chibuike said they were not at the scene for robbery operation but on a revenge mission.
He said the Buccaneers cult attacked their sect which he identified as “22” and they went on reprisal, adding that on sighting them one of the Buccaneer leaders who was in the room of his girl friend fled.
Chibuike said they did not harrass the girl but were only in her apartment to hunt for the boy friend when the police arrived the sceen.
He however expressed sorry for joining a cult group while pleading for forgiveness.
He also apologized to the management of the institution as well as his parents for bringing shame to them and vowed never again to be involved in cultism if let off the hook.
Corroborating his account, Emmanuel also regretted his action and begged for forgiveness.
End
More Stories
Recovery of govt property: Otti receives panel’s report
Three suspects in police net over beheading of Abia couple
CP Isa takes over as Abia new police boss, vows to sustain fight against insecurity * Warns personnel against misconducts