ENUGU CP TO SET UP TEAM TO CHECK POLICE EXTORTION ON ROADS, PARADES CRIMINAL SUSPECTS
REPORTER: CHIKWUBUIKE MADU
Police Command in Enugu State is to constitute a special team to check alleged cases of extortion of motorists by Policemen on roads in the State.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubabar Daura, made this known during his maiden media briefing where he paraded some suspected criminals arrested by the Command in the past two week.
The Media briefing by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mr. Abubakar-Lawal-Daura, was his first since assumption of office on August 10, 2021.
Mr. Daura while answering questions from journalists said the Command would address the issue of alleged unnecessary check points in Enugu metropolis, a situation said to be partly responsible for the gridlock in the capital city.
“Check points are necessary, especially with the security challenges we have in the East now because it slows down escape of criminals.
“However, since you say some of the checkpoints are unnecessary and dangerous where they are, we will review them and see where we are going to make adjustments,” he promised.
On alleged extortion of motorists by Policemen at checkpoints, the Police Commissioner absolved the police management in the state of any complicity, noting that a team would be set up to monitor and deal with any offender.
“No senior police officer will send his men to go and extort drivers on the road.
“Now you have brought it to my knowledge and I am here with my management team. We are going to constitute a team that will go round and ensure that all those recalcitrant policemen are dealt with because we have been hammering on the issue of corrupt practices and it’s about time we act(ed) properly,” Mr. Daura threatened.
Meanwhile, Mr. Daura said since assumption of duty four months ago, the Command had arrested 120 suspects for various criminal offences with some of the cases already in courts; rescue 14 kidnap victims, recovered 41 stolen vehicles, recorded 2 rape/defilement cases, 15 cases of arson, 12 murder cases, among others.
The Police Commissioner specifically said those of them paraded were arrested in the past two weeks, including 3 persons, who specialised in swindling car sellers with fake payment alerts, a 27 year old man who kidnapped an 86 year old woman; 3 persons involved in the kidnap and over 12 million naira extortion of a man who came from Lagos to adopt a child.
“The Suspects Involved Include:
Chioma Nwatu (female and a.k.a “Chioma-Gbashi) aged 28, of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Chikwube Nwatu (male and a.k.a “Cheche”) aged 27, of Precious Layout, Off One Day, Awkunanaw, Enugu; and
Uwa Emeka (male and a.k.a “Akimbo”) aged 29, of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
“The suspects were arrested on 22/12/2021 at about 0200hrs, by Police Operatives attached to CP Monitoring Unit of the Command.
“Their arrest was sequel to the Operatives carrying out intelligence-led operations, upon the receipt of a report alleging that the trio and others at large, conspired and kidnapped one Amechi Oguama (male) aged 38, on 20th October, 2021, demanded and received a ransom of about ten million naira (N10, 000.000.00) from the victim’s family, but failed to produce him.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, who confessed to crime, had invited the victim to Enugu from his base in Lagos, to finalize a child adoption deal, after obtaining the total sum of three million, seven hundred and sixty-two thousand, five hundred naira (N3, 762, 500.00) as payment for the adoption a twin.
“Meanwhile, a Mercedes Benz 4matic Jeep with reg. number: KWL 600 BE, belonging to the victim and in which he was abducted on the said date, have been recovered; while discreet investigation is ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend other members of the criminal gang at large,” the Commissioner stated.
One of the kidnap suspects, Chioma Nwatu, partly acknowledged her involvement in the alleged crime for the few minutes she was allowed to speak with journalists.
“So when we started the process, I connected the wife of the man with a girl that wants to sell her own baby,” she said.
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The Police Command displayed six cars, guns, bullets, a stone, a pestle and mobile phones allegedly recovered from the suspects.
The Police Commissioner reiterated that the ban on fire works was still in force and said it would go against sellers of such illegal explosives.
“I also wish to use this medium to reiterate that the ban on the use of fireworks (commonly called “knockouts” or “bangers”) and other explosives in the State is still in force.
“Consequently, dealers in these commodities are hereby cautioned against selling them, while community leaders, parents and guardians are strongly enjoined to caution their subjects, children and wards against buying and igniting fireworks and other explosives.
“This is to avoid criminal elements using it as a cover to create panic, perfect their criminal intentions and make the peaceful celebration of the seasons impossible,” the Police Commissioner remarked.
He added that the Police Command was collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure effective security of lives and property during Christmas and New Year festivities.