At least 14 suspects using fake military uniforms to carry out criminal activities in Onitsha, Anambra State and its environs have been arrested.
The suspects were nabbed by the Anambra State Joint Enforcement Team of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, Ocha Brigade.
Disclosing this on Friday, the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade, Celestine Anere told newsmen that his men nabbed the suspects on Thursday across various locations in Onitsha.
Speaking further, the MD narrated that the arrested suspects had over time robbed and harassed innocent residents.
He added that they also forcefully extorting money from motorists and passers-by in the area.
According to Anere, who was quoting some of the suspects in their custody, they stole phones, bags and valuables from innocent residents.
In addition, he explained that some of them have admitted to using hard drugs and gathering intelligence for their criminal counterparts.
He said, “Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, Ocha Brigade, has previously arrested and prosecuted some of the hoodlums in similar cases and will continue to sanitise the state from criminals and drug syndicates.
“The effort to rid the state of criminal elements is in line with the mandate of the state government’s clean, healthy, livable and prosperous homeland. Let’s secure our state from criminal elements. We also appealed to the public to call the customer service lines provided for emergencies and inquiries.”
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In another news, the Abia State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 65-year-old man, Mr Chigbu Chigozie, in a suspected murder case at Nsirimo Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA), saying an autopsy would be conducted.
The Command made the confirmation in a press release signed by ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Commissioner of Police, Abia State.
According to the police, some suspects have been arrested in connection with Mr Chigozie’s murder while the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for comprehensive inquiry.
The statement described Chigozie’s murder as disturbing, adding that his lifeless body has been deposited in a mortuary.
“On the morning of September 21, 2023, at approximately 8 am, the Ubakala Police Division in Abia State received a disturbing incident report. It was reported that the lifeless body of an individual was discovered in One Mr. Chigbu’s compound.
“The deceased was later identified as Mr. Chigbu Chigozie, a 65-year-old resident of Umumba Nsirimo, Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA. He was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple machete wounds to his head. Unfortunately, Mr. Chigbu was confirmed to be deceased.
“Our officers promptly visited the crime scene, collected essential evidence, and took photographs. The victim’s body has been transported to the mortuary, where it will undergo autopsy as part of further investigation.
“At this time, some suspects have been arrested, and preliminary investigations are actively ongoing. In the interest of a comprehensive inquiry, this case will be subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID” the police statement said.