PRESS BRIEFING BY THE ABIA STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CP ADELEYE O. OYEBADE ON MONDAY, 5TH JUNE, 2017 AT THE STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, UMUAHIA.
I wish to commend all indigenes and residents of Abia State for their peaceful composure before, during and after the IPOB / MASSOB sit at home order.
However, within the period under review, the Abia State Police Command being fair, firm and professional in discharge of her duties, putting into consideration the core-values of Nigeria Police and fundamental human rights recorded the following achievements:
1. ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECT:
On 19/05/2017 at about 0700hrs, one Joshua Anyanwoke ‘m’ of Ozatta Village in Ukwa West L.G.A in Abia State, came to report himself that he went with matchet to the house of one Paul Ezinwa ‘m’ of same Village and demanded the sum of One Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (N1,200.00) he owed him, but he refused to give him. That as a result of the refusal, he gave the victim a matchet cut on the neck and he bled to death while being taken to the Hospital. Suspect was arrested, scene of crime visited by detectives attached to Obehie Division while the corpse was deposited in the Mortuary for autopsy.
2. RECOVERY OF FIREARM:
On 23/05/2017 at about 2100hrs detectives attached to Isiala Ngwa North Division, while raiding criminal hideouts in their area of responsibilty, arrested one Chibunna Umezuruike ‘m’ of Okpulor-Ukwu Umuosu Nsulu, with a locally made short gun which he could not give satisfactorily account of.
3. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY / MURDER SUSPECTS:
On 29/05/2017 at about 0515hrs, report that at about 0300hrs, five (5) armed robbers attacked the occupants of a residence at Osisioma and stabbed one Chikezie Amakwe with Scissors at his chest. Following the report, detectives attached to Osisioma Division raced to the scene where two of the suspects, Ogadinma Elendu and Uchenna Okoro both males of Asa Obehie and Ngwa road Aba respectively, were arrested and the exhibit scissors recovered with one Samsung GSM phone. The victim who was earlier rushed to Abia State Teaching Hospital Aba, later gave up the ghost. The deceased was deposited in the morgue while effort is being intensified toward arresting the fleing members of the gang.
4. ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS:
On 24/05/2017 at about 0530hrs, upon information that a group suspected to be kidnappers terrorizing Ovom axis Aba were sighted, operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Aba swooped on them and arrested the following suspects Chibuzor John Peter alias ‘Don 50’, Chukwuma Ndukwe alias ‘One Man’ and Micah Eze, all males. Suspects were linked to the kidnap of one Emmanuel Nwachukwu on 20/05/2017.
5. RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLE / ARREST OF SUSPECT:
On 27/05/2017 at about 1000hrs, upon a tip off detectives attached to Osisioma Division while on stop and search duty at Osisioma Junction Aba, arrested one Friday Okorie ‘m’ of No. 1 Iwu Street Oyibo in Rivers State with one Hiace Bus with reg. No. LSR 418 XU reportedly snatched on gun point at Agbor in Delta State by one Okoro Silver ‘m’ of No. 170 Odozie Street Agbor in Delta State. The vehicle was recovered while preliminary investigation commenced.
6. CHILD TRAFFICKING / BABY FACTORY:
On 24/05/2017 at about 1200hrs, information was received that a storey building located at Faulks Road Aba, which doubles as a Church and Medical centre was converted to Baby Factory. Based on this information, a team of Policemen attached to Ariaria Division led by the DPO stormed the premises where five pregnant young girls were rescued and one Christopher Adebanya Tochukwu, the Pastor of the Church and the operator of the clinic who earlier fled the scene was arrested. Upon interrogation, one of the pregnant young girls alleged that she was raped by the so called pastor that morning, while another alleged that the pastor attempted to rape her if not for a broken piece of glass she used in self-defense. However, another girl claimed that her two month old baby delivered therein was forcefully taken away from her by the pastor’s wife (now at large) and sold to an unknown person. A two week old premature baby girl rescued at the scene has been taken to a motherless baby’s home for care and custody.
7. RESCUE OF AN ABDUCTED WOMAN:
On 30/05/2017 at about 0800hrs, information was received that the body of a young lady was dumped in a gutter along Dozie way, Ihie Ndume. A patrol team led by the DPO World Bank visited the scene, rescued the victim and took her to Amarajane Hospital, Ihie Ndume where she was revived. The victim gave her name as Onyinyechi Ufo, a native of Enugu Agidi in Anambra State but married to one Chinweike Ufo of Ngwu in Anambra State and resides at Ogoja, Cross River State with her husband. She further stated that an unknown woman took her away with her one year old son from Igoli Junction Ogoja, Cross River State in a Mercedes V. Boot car only to find herself in Abia State. The victim has been reunited with her family members.
8. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ROBBER:
On 29/05/2017 at about 2200hrs, upon a distress call that a motorcycle was robbed from its owners, Chijioke Onuegbu and Godswill Amanze both males of Umuopara Umuekezuo Village at Uratta Road, operatives attached to Uratta Division led by the patrol and guard Officer swung into action and intercepted the gang along the road where one Godwin Erugo ‘m’, a member of the three man gang was arrested while two others took to their heels. Investigation is in progress.
9. RECOVERY OF ARMS / AMMUNITION AND VEHICLE:
On 31/05/2017 at about 2030hrs, operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) station at Ubakala Division while on patrol sighted a white Mitsubishi bus with reg. No. AAA 563 XT parked by the road side. The occupants upon sighting the patrol team jump into the bush and during a search in the vehicle, one AK 47 Rifle, 16 live ammunition, four magazines, one pump action rifle and one Infinix phone were recovered along with the bus. Investigation is in progress.
10. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ROBBER:
On 30/05/2017 at about 0300hrs, a distress call was received that one Abraham Njoku ‘m’ of Umuahia was being robbed. Based on the call, operatives attached to Central Police Station Umuahia responded promptly and arrested one Onyekachi Ifeanyi ‘m’ while the other suspect escaped with the items stolen. Effort is intensified toward the arrest of the fleeing suspect and recovery of the stolen items.
11. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS / RECOVERY OF WEAPONS:
On 29/05/2017 at about 1000hrs, team of 55PMF Aba while on stop and search at the border between Abia and Imo, arrested two suspected armed robbers riding on a Kasea motorcycle with reg. No. AB 4331 A. The suspects, Wisdom Chijindu Azumara, 24yrs ‘m’ of Umuikaa Village and Chukwuemeka Godwin Nwankpa 29yrs ‘m’ of Ahiaba Okpuala Village both in Isiala Ngwa South and Isiala Ngwa North respectively, were arrested with one locally made double barrel gun, two live cartridges and one short axe. Discreet investigation has commenced.
12. RECOVERY OF A STOLEN CHILD / ARREST OF SUSPECT:
On 28/05/2017 at about 1800hrs, operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) attached to Obehie Division, arrested one Godspower Emeka 28yrs ‘m’ of Orji Street Obehie for the stealing of one Mercy Emeka ‘f’ 3yrs of same address. The said Mercy Emeka who was sold to one Kelvin Ogbunigwu aged 35yrs ‘m’ of Omuma Rivers State for one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000.00) was recovered. Suspect confessed to the crime while effort is geared towards arresting other suspects.
13. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT:
On 31/05/2017 at about 1500hrs, operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Umuahia, arrested one Chima Chiedozie Daniel ‘m’ of no. 19 Uche Street Eziama Aba, a member of an armed robbery gang that specialize in snatching vehicles in the State. It’s worth recalling that on 16/02/2017 at Amuzukwu Umuahia, a six (6) man gang of armed robbers snatched a Toyota Sienna van with reg. no. BDG 455 EA from one Martins ‘m’. During a visit to the scene, one Tecno phone was recovered. With the aid of the Bureau’s technical device, the suspect was tracked down. The suspect is giving a lead to the investigation.
14. ARREST OF BURGLARS / RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS:
On 31/05/2017 at about 1230hrs, based on a report made by one Ozioma at Osisioma that on 30/05/2017 at night time, some thieves broke into the house of CSP Allwell Okwuonu ‘m’ of Nigeria Police attached to Eastern Ngwa Division; detectives attached to Osisioma Division swung into action and arrested the trio of Maduabuchi Onwumelu, Chinyere Peter and Okocha Mgbeahu all males. The following items have been recovered: One 32 inch Plasma Tv, one Extra Bass LG 20000 watts Home Theatre with six loud speakers, one blue coloured bed spread, three coloured pillow cases, two door curtains, fifteen window curtains, one family size Mouka mattress, one cooking stove, five plastic chairs and one standing fan which total value is yet unknown belonging to CSP Allwell Okwuonu. The suspects have confessed to the crime while effort is intensified to track down other suspects.
15. RECOVERY OF A SUSPECTED STOLEN VEHICLE:
On 30/05/2017 at about 0700hrs, a patrol team attached to Isiala Ngwa North Division while on patrol within their area of responsibility, recovered one Volkswagen Vento GL car, Ash in colour with reg. no. KSF 277 DA whose occupants abandoned and jumped into the bush at the sight of the patrol team. Investigation is in progress.
16. ARREST OF SUSPECTS / RECOVERY OF STOLEN ITEMS:
On 31/05/2017 at about 1700hrs, acting upon a tip off, a team of detectives attached to Osisioma Division intercepted one Sienna Van with reg. No. AA 991 GWB, ash in colour laden with pieces of iron, engine for electrical fitting and pieces of Aluminum Zinc which carted away from one moribund BONN Industries Ltd Osisioma which value is yet unknown. The duo of Uche Gabriel, 31yrs ‘m’ of same company and Agu Chimezie, (aka Lion) 32yrs ‘m’ of No. 9 Port-Harcourt Road Aba were arrested. The vehicle and exhibits were recovered while investigation commenced.
17. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF SUBSTANCE SUSPECTED TO BE COCAINE:
On 27/05/2017 at about 1845hrs, a team of 55PMF personnel on stop and search operation at Owerrinta Nipping point intercepted and arrested one Kelechi Alele ‘m’ of Ngor Okpala Obike Village Imo State and other now at large riding on an Opel motorcycle. During a search, 45 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine powder were recovered from him. Investigation is in progress.
18. RECOVERY OF SNATCHED VEHICLE:
On 30/05/2017 at about 2125hrs, following a distress call that a four man armed robbery gang snatched a Toyota Sienna with reg. No. HAF 807 MJ, Grey in colour belonging to one Chibuzo Nwogu, detectives attached to Ndiegoro Division and SIB operatives proceeded to the scene where one other Sienna Van with reg. no. NSK 120 AA, Black in colour abandoned by the hoodlums was recovered. The joint team went after the hoodlums who eventually abandoned the snatched Sienna and escaped. Both vehicles were recovered and efforts intensified toward arresting the fleeing hoodlums.
19. SMASHING OF ARMED ROBBERY GANG:
On 04/06/2017 at about 2259hrs, upon a tip off, joint team of 28PMF men on guard duty and patrol team attached to Ndiegoro Division intercepted and engaged a five man armed robbery gang in gun duel near First Bank Ehi Road Aba while in operation. Two of the hoodlums were gunned down, three escaped and their operational Nissan Vehicle with reg. no. AE 221 ARG and other items recovered. Effort is in progress to arrest the fleeing suspects.
20. ARREST OF SHOP BREAKING AND SUSPECT / RECOVERY OF STOLEN GOODS:
On 05/06/2017 at about 0530hrs, detectives attached to Central Police Station Umuahia while on early morning foot patrol, intercepted one Joseph Etim, ‘m’ of Amuzukwu Umuahia in possession of a big bag (Ghana must go). A thorough search of the bag revealed assorted provisions, cosmetics and wines. Upon interrogation, he confessed to have broken into one of the POWA shops along Finbars road Umuahia. It would be recalled that this same suspect was arrested, arraigned in December 2016 and remanded in prison custody but was released in March, 2017 when the complainant declined to prosecute the case. Investigation is ongoing.
SIGNED:
DSP GEOFFERY OGBONNA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
ABIA STATE COMMAND.
