By Adadareporters
The operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters of the Imo State Police Command have apprehended three notorious criminal suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, cultism, and motorcycle snatching respectively.
One of the suspects, John Chukwudi, ‘m’, 27, a native of Ntu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, was arrested on 14/08/2024 while on intelligence-led patrol with the local vigilantes along Human Race Hospital Road, Nekede. Items recovered from him include one locally made pistol and five rounds of live cartridges.
ASP Henry Okoye, the state PPRO, said, “On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the black axe confraternity cult group and stated that the gun was given to him by a member of his syndicate, Ugochukwu Ndubuisi aka Dimzi Gate, who is at large.”
In a different development, Elijah Chigemezu, ‘m’, 23, of Ezzamgbo in Ebonyi State was apprehended on 11/08/2024 along Cluster Road, Naze, in the act of dispossessing a young man of his phone and personal belongings at gunpoint.
The PPRO said, “His arrest was following a swift response to a distress call by police operatives in synergy with the military. One locally made shotgun was recovered from the suspect. On interrogation, he confessed to the crime.”
He continued, “Chibieze Tasie, ‘m’, 32, was apprehended at 1, Naze, following a thorough investigation into a reported case of motorcycle snatching in Nekede. On interrogation, the suspect confessed to having conspired with one Ndubisi, ‘m’ at large to snatch motorcycles from unsuspecting motorcyclists in Nekede.
“He revealed that he stops a motorcycle rider, lures him to a lonely location where his syndicate will disposes the rider of his motorcycle. One hundred and seventy thousand naira was recovered from the suspect as part of the proceeds of his alleged criminal business.”
Okoye said the suspects had all been transferred to the State Criminals Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri, for consolidation of the ongoing investigation.
He added that efforts “are on top gear to apprehend and prosecute the manufacturers of the locally-made pistol”.
While commending the operatives for their professionalism in achieving the operational feats, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, urged them to sustain the tempo in the onslaught against crimes and criminality in the state. ASP
He admonished the people of Imo State to continue to support the police and other security agencies with timely and actionable information on any suspicious person or activity observed within their vicinity.
