By Foster Obi

Commissioner of Police for Abia state, CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala has highlighted the commitment of his leadership in creating a safe environment for the citizens to go about their daily duties especially during Yuletide.

In a maiden briefing on December 1, 2022 at the Police headquarters Umuahia, the CP while commending the media for prompt response noted that the meeting was necessary to keep the people “abreast of our activities and successes from time to time.”

According to him, “The Abia State Police Command under my watch is poised to maintain the peaceful and calm disposition it is noted for as God’s Own State.

“To maintain and improve on this feat, the Command is not leaving any stone unturned in her efforts toward fighting Crime and Criminality.

“Christmas and other festivities are few weeks away from now and it is expected that every law abiding citizen in the State shall have a joyful celebration before, during and after the festive periods. This onerous task deserves the effort of all and sundry as Security is a Collective responsibility,” he said.

He declared as follows: “It would be recalled that shortly after my assumption of office on the 28th October, 2022, I solicited proactive security support from both State and non-State actors as well as relevant critical stake-holders in the Command because I believe that in working together, more will be achieved.

“However, below is some of the most recent break-through recorded within my first one month in the Command:

1. FRAUDLENT CONVERSION OF MONEY:

SUSPECT:

I. FRANCIS UWAOMA OGUBUNKA ‘M’ 36 YEARS

Sometime on 18/12/2021, the suspect Francis Uwaoma Ogubunka, a native of Umuokwor Mbutu in Isiala Ngwa South LGA of the State converted to his own use the sum of ten thousand US Dollars mistakenly paid into his First Bank account number 2038600188 and absconded. Then on 12/11/2022, he was arrested by the Command’s RRS. He has confessed to the withdrawal of the said amount and conversion of same to his personal use. Investigation is still ongoing.

2. ARREST OF KIDNAPPING SUSPECT:

SUSPECT:

BRIGHT CHIMAOBI

EXHIBIT: (i) ONE TECNO PHONE

(ii) ONE TRICYCLE

(iii) ONE EYE GLASS

On 21/11/2022 at about 1700hours, one Tecno phone belonging to one Chidiadi Victor ‘m’ whose wife Nkiruka Chidiadi Victor was kidnapped on 10/10/2022 at about 2100hours along BCA road Umuahia was, through intelligence and technologically led investigation recovered from the suspect, Bright Chimaobi male of Uratta village in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State by the operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit Umuahia. During this investigation, one Uche Adaku ‘f’ who was kidnapped 2/11/2022 and release on 4/11/2022 after payment of N1.310m identified the suspect Chimaobi as the one that shot the husband on the leg. Similarly, one Christian Nwadike ‘m’ of Ogwa in Mbaitolu LGA, Imo resident along Bende road Umuahia who was kidnapped on 8/11/2022 and released on 11/11/2022 after payment of N620,000.00 also identified the same Bright Chimaobi as the one that drove his Lexus Jeep RX330 away during his kidnap. The gang operates with Tricycle (aka Keke Napep) which has also been recovered from the suspect. Further investigation revealed that Bright Chimaobi was among the gang that kidnapped one Mrs Shullamite Shericks sometime in August 2022 and was released after a ransom of N3m and of which her eye glass has been recovered from this same suspect. Investigation is still towards arresting the fleeing members of the gang.

3. ARREST OF SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF WEAPONS:

SUSPECTS:

I. FRIDAY UCHECHUKWU ‘M’ 25 YEARS

II. PROMISE CHIGOZIE ‘M’ 26 YEARS

EXHIBITS:

I. ONE LOCALLY MADE DOUBLE BARREL PISTOL WITH ONE LIVE CARTRIDGE

II. ONE HAOJUE MOTORCYCLE WITH REG. NO. RRT 470 W

On 21/11/2022 at about 0520hours, the operatives of RRS while on patrol along Owaza road intercepted the duo of Friday Uchechukwu and Promise Chigozie both natives of Owaza Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State on a motorcycle. During a search, one locally made double barrel pistol was recovered from them. Investigation is in ongoing.

4. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST/RECOVERY OF WEAPON:

SUSPECT:

I. CHUKWU JOSHUA ‘M’ 22 YEARS

EXHIBIT:

I. ONE (1) LOCALLY MADE PISTOL

On 22/11/2022, the suspect, Chukwu Joshua, a native of Ohaozara in Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State and resident at no. 38 Awolowo Street Umuahia Abia State was arrested with a black bag containing one locally made pistol. He is held for unlawful possession of firearm and suspected cultist. Investigation is in progress.

5. CONSPIRACY/OBTAINING BY FRAUD:

SUSPECT:

NMESOMA NWADIKE ‘F’ 21 YEARS

On 22/11/2022, the suspect Nmesoma Nwadike, a native of Ogwa in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State and resident at no. 25 Agu Okorie Umuosu Ngwa road Aba fraudulently sent one Cynthia Nwachukwu’s details to her co-scammer identified as Queen Love which was used to defraud the said Cynthia of the sum of seventy five thousand Naira (N75,000.00) on the pretence of selling Bone Straight Wig to her. The suspect has confessed to the crime while effort is in progress toward arresting the accomplice.

6. ARREST OF GUN RUNNING SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF FIREARMS AND CARTRIDGES:

SUSPECT:

OBINNA NNAH ‘M’ 46 YEARS

EXHIBITS:

I. TWO (2) ENGLISH DOUBLE BARREL GUNS

II. ONE PUMP ACTION

III. SEVENTY SIX (76) LIVE CARTRIDGES

On 24/11/2022 at about 2200hours, the Commander of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) acting on a credible intelligence led his operatives to the residence of the suspect, Obinna Nnah at Ohanku village in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the State where the afore-mentioned firearms and live cartridges were recovered. The suspect has confessed to being a gun runner. Efforts are intensified toward arresting his accomplices.

7. ARREST OF CULTISTS AND RECOVERY OF FIREARMS/CARTRIDGES:

SUSPECTS:

I. FRIDAY AMAH AKA GINGER ‘M’ 24YEARS

II. MADUABUCHI NWANKWO FIDELIS AKA SOBONKO

EXHIBITS:

I. ONE LOCALLY MADE SINGLE BARREL PISTOL WITH FIVE LIVE CARTRIDGES

II. SOME SUBSTANCES SUSPECTED TO BE HARD DRUGS

On 24/11/2022 at about 2100hours, the same Rapid Response Squad operatives led by their Commander stormed one Amatex Foundation Hotel situate along Owerri road Aba where the suspects among others were arrested and the exhibits recovered. Upon interrogation, one of the suspects, Friday Amah, a native of Eddah in Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi State and resident at No. 13 Ihesiaba road confessed to ownership of the pistol with its live cartridges. He further confessed to membership of Supreme Vikings confraternity together with Maduabuchi Nwankwo Fidelis resident at no.2 School road Aba. Investigation is still in progress.

8. ARREST OF A RAPE SUSPECT:

SUSPECT:

ONWUNEGBULU DANIEL ‘M’ 33 YEARS

Sometime in the month of June 2022, the suspect Onwunegbulu Daniel male of Umuorou Ife in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State raped one Onuoha Jennifer aged 35years and absconded. Then later on 24/11/22, he was arrested. The victim has identified him and he has confessed to the crime while investigation is in progress.

9. ARREST OF SUSPECT AND RECOVERIES OF FIREARM/WEEDS:

SUSPECT: CHUKWUEBUKA OKEKE ‘M’ 22 YEARS

EXHIBITS:

I. ONE LOCALLY MADE PISTOL

II. WEEDS/SUBSTANCES

On 24/11/2022 at about 1530hours, in Umuahia township Stadium during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally, the suspect Chukwuebuka Okeke ‘m’ of Umuokwu Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State was intercepted by the eagle eyed operatives of the Command’s Crack Squad inside the Stadium. Search conducted on his person, led to the recovery of one locally made pistol concealed on his waist and wraps of weeds and substances suspected to be Cannabis and hard drugs respectively. Investigation is still in progress.

10. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS/RECOVERY OF FIREARM:

SUSPECTS:

I. AGU LUCKY ‘M’ 23YEARS

II. CHINEDU ANDREW ‘M’ 21YEARS

EXHIBITS:

I. ONE LOCALLY MADE PISTOL

On 27/11/2022 at about 0220hours, Police patrol team from Ubakala while patrolling their area of authority intercepted the duo of Agu Lucky and Chinedu Andrew both males of old Umuahia, Ubakala Umuahia South LGA. During a search on them, one locally made pistol was recovered on them. Discreet investigation has commenced.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS, BIAFRAN CURRENCY AND HARD DRUGS

SUSPECTS:

i. CHIJIOKE CHUKWU ‘M’ 25YRS

ii. AZUBUIKE OBED OKECHUKWU ‘M’ 20YRS

iii. CHUKWUEMEKA OKEOSISI ‘M’ 24YRS

iv. LUCKY OKOROAFOR ‘M’ 37YRS

EXHIBITS:

i. ONE LOCALLY MADE PISTOL

ii. BIAFRAN CURRENCIES

iii. WRAPS OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND SATCHET OF TRAMADOL

On 30/11/2022 at about 1040hrs acting on intelligence, the operatives of Rapid Response Squad attached to Isuikwuato Area Command swung into action and intercepted some men along Akara, Isuikwuato road claimed to be motorcycle Union Task Force; and had impounded a vehicle conveying goods belonging to one Chidinma Young of Amokwe Aminyi Ogboro. The men who could not give a satisfactory account of themselves were searched and the aforementioned exhibits recovered from them. Discreet investigation is in progress.

The Abia State Command will not rest on her efforts in ensuring that the residents and visitors enjoy this forthcoming Yuletide peaceably. Let me also use this opportunity to admonish all road users to always ply the roads with utmost care and remember that someone somewhere cares for them.

Picture: CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala, Abia State Police Commissioner