POLICE CAUTION ABIARESIDENTS AGAINST AUGUST 1 PROTEST

REPORTER: LAWRENCE NWOKEDI

The Commissioner of Police Abia State, Mr. Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has appealed to Nigerian youths and those behind the planned nationwide protest to have a rethink and shelved the protest for the good of the country.

Mr. Onwuemelie made the plea while parading some suspected criminals and hoodlums arrested by Police at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia.

He noted that embarking on the protest would lead to wanton destruction of lives and property as hoodlums and miscreants would likely hijack it and cause mayhem.

The Police Commissioner also said that the command had in the last four months arrested 162 suspected criminals mostly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and child trafficking at various locations in the state.

Mr. Onwuemelie warned criminals to turn a new leaf or be prepared to face the long arm of the law as Police and other security agencies in the state were ever ready to deal decisively with anyone caught in criminal act.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, one of the suspects, Innocent Nwaeze, narrated how they were arrested by the Police.

Items allegedly recovered from the suspects included two AK 47 rifle, two pistol guns, 11 locally made single barrelled guns, t2 live cartridges, 10 expanded cartridges, two axes, three police vests, Vehicles two tricycles (Keke napep two bags containing substances suspected to be Indian hemp, phones and armourd cables.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU