POLICE ARREST GANG TERRORISING ANAMBRA COMMUNITY

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Police Command in Anambra State has apprehended six members of a notorious criminal gang that had allegedly been terrorizing Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Government Area.

During the raid on the criminal hideout, the police operatives recovered some weapons, including three English pump action rifles, one locally made berretta pistol, live ammunitions and other incriminating items, which they allegedly use for their operations.

Some residents of the community told journalists that the members of the notorious gang had for long, been using an illegal vigilance group to kidnap, rob, intimidate and harass people in the area.

The people also alleged that the gang had broken into homes of prominent individuals in the community, stealing their property, raping female members and kidnapping others, who were later forced to pay huge sums of money as ransom before regaining freedom.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with Radio Nigeria, said so many other operations were ongoing in parts of the state and would be made public at the appropriate time.

Mr. Ikenga commended the people of Eziowelle and other communities for breaking the conspiracy of silence which resulted in the successes being recorded by the police command in the state.

The PPRO explained that Commissioner of Police, Mr. Echeng Echeng, after receiving many reports of the criminal activities, directed the Commander of Anti-cult Unit in the state, Mr. Uche Noah, to swing into action and round up all the criminals involved in the nefarious acts.

He said security personnel were already on ground in various parts of the state, including Eziowelle, with a view to stamping out all criminal elements in the area.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU