Photos: Police rescue stolen 6-year-old boy sold for N200,000 in Abia State

The Abia State Police Command have arrested one Chibueze Nwaozuzu of Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of the state for allegedly stealing a 6-year-old boy. The suspect sold the child to one Comfort Umunnake, who was also arrested and the victim recovered from her.
Nwaozuzu was nabbed following a report received of the missing 6 years old child identified as Chinecherem Anoruo. The suspect made useful statements to the police confessing to the crime stating that he stole the child and sold the child to Umunnakwe for the sum of two hundred thousand (N200, 000.00) Naira.
The sum of eighty-three thousand (83, 000.00) Naira being part of the proceeds of the sale of the child was also recovered from Chibueze Nwaozuzu. Investigation is ongoing and suspects would be charged to court accordingly.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Chris Okey Ezike, who paraded the suspects along with other suspected cultists, kidnappers, armed robbers,on Wednesday April 12th, at the command headquarters, Owerri, reiterated his resolve to reduce crime and enhance safety and security in Imo State.

"On the 10th of April, 2017, I held a meeting with all the heads of Departments, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Team Commanders in Imo State Command," said the CP. "We are collectively resolved that our mission in this new journey shall be “TO REDUCE CRIME AND ENHANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY IN IMO STATE”. This State of being shall not only enable Imolites go about their lawful businesses without fear of any molestation but also enable the business of Government and private Sector thrive without security encumbrances.

"Accordingly, we shall Provide qualitative police service to the people of Imo State, fight serious crimes of armed robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism and other violent social disorders with renewed vigour, strength and commitment. Partner with other Security Agencies and Non-State actors in a professional and transparent manner in this journey. Build a positive bridge between the Police and Traditional Rulers, Local Government Administrators, Imo Security Network, Imo Community Watch and Community Vigilante Groups." he added.

Below is the full press statement on the arrest of other suspected criminals:

1.ARREST OF SUSPECTS/RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIM/RECOVERY OF FIREARMS/AMMUNITION:-
SUSPECTS: (1) CHINEDU IMO ‘M’ OF NDIAWA ARONDIZUOGU (RING LEADER OF THE GANG-NOW DECEASED)
(2) UCHE OBIOHA ‘M’ 57YRS OF NDE-ANICHE IKPEANYI ARO-NDIZUOGU ONUIMO L.G.A
(3) ANAYO OTI KALU MUSA aka GENERAL
(4) OKPAU UGONMA ‘F’ 24YRS OF AKOEME OHIAUCHU ARONDIZUOGU
(5) EMMANUEL CHIKA IHEMENA ‘M’ OF ARO-NDIZOGU
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: (i) THREE (3) AK 47 RIFLES
(ii) FIFTEEN (15) AK 47 MAGAZINES LOADED WITH AMMUNITION
(ii) ONE SHORT LOCALLY MADE
DOUBLE BARREL PISTOL
(iv) ONE BLACK TOYOTA COROLLA WITH REG. NO. AAA-308-BP BELONGING TO THE VICTIM

On the 03/04/2017, one Ben Kpaduwa ‘m’ of IsialaMbano L.G.A was kidnapped at Anara Town, IsialaMbano, LGA by unidentified armed men. Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command swiftly pursued the hoodlums to IkpaOkorie in NdibechukwuAroNdizuogu in Onuimo LGA but they escaped deep into the forest. The house of one of the gang members one ChukwuemekaObidike aka “OnyeAnamaraekwe” was condoned and searched and the above exhibits arms and ammunitions were recovered. One UgonwaOkparawho claimed to be wife of the kidnap gang was arrested for interrogation. In furtherance of Police operations on 04/04/2017 the kidnap gang was traced to NdiawaAroNdizuogu in Ideato North LGA where they engaged the police in a shoot out. One Chinedu Imo ‘m’ of NdiawaAroNdizuoguIdeato North LGA, suspected to be a gang member sustained injuries while one Emmanuel Chika Ihemena was arrested with victim’s black Toyota Corrola car. The victim, Ben Kpaduwa was rescued on 04/04/2017.

The injured gang member, Chinedu Imo was taken to the hospital for treatment where he was confirmed dead.
Further investigation led to the arrest of one Anayo OtiKalu Musa aka “General” identified to be member of the kidnap gang responsible for the kidnap of one Mrs Ebi Tina aka (Nwanyiocha) at Oguta in December, 2016. He was arrested was arrested with locally made shot gun.
Investigation is still ongoing.

8.2. ARREST OF SUSPECTS IN CASE OF KIDNAPPING:-
SUSPECTS: (1) LUKE JOSHUA ‘M’ 29YRS NATIVE OF FAWARE IN GHIRE L.G.A. ADAMAWA STATE
(2) HARUNA AJI ‘M’ 29YRS NATIVE OF MBANGAN YADA LGA OF ADAMAWA STATE BOTH RESIDING AT IHIAGWA, OWERRI WEST LGA.
Following the kidnap of Rev. OchembaChibuzo on his way back from his building site along Avu Layout Port Harcourt Road by four armed men on 29/03/2017, the above named suspects were arrested by operatives of the Command on 01/04/2017 for their involvement in the kidnap and victim rescued unhurt. Investigation is still ongoing and efforts are being made to apprehend two other fleeing members of the gang.

8.3. ARREST OF SUSPECT INVOLVED IN KIDNAPPING:-
SUSPECT: GODSTIME IKECHUKWU OKOROAFOR M’ AKA BISHOP 37YRS FROM UMUNOHA MBAITOLI L.G.A. (DECEASED)
EXHIBIT RECOVERED: ONE BLACK LEXUS JEEP WITH REG NO. RBC-750-ET
Following the kidnap of one Chris Ohuruzor ‘m’ 33yrs of AmucheNjaba L.G.A. and one ASP Christopher Obi attached to Orlu Police Division on the 26/03/2017 by one of the most notorious/ wanted kidnap kingpin, operatives of the Command on information swung into action and trailed the suspectGodstimeIkechukwuOkorafor to his hide-out at OgbosisiOwerri/Onitsha Road, Anambra state where he was arrested with a black Lexus jeep. The suspect died in the hospital while taking treatment as a result of injuries sustained while attempting to escape from the Lexus jeep; he however made useful statements to the police confessing to have carried out series of kidnap activities within the State and its suburbs. Suspect also disclosed other members of his gang currently at large. Efforts are being made to track them while investigation is ongoing.

8.4. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY/KIDNAPPING SUSPECTS/RESCUED OF VICTIM AND RECOVERY ARMS AND AMMUNITONS AND OTHER EXHIBITS:-
SUSPECTS: (1) ANAYO OTI KALU MUSA aka GENERAL ‘M’ 32YRS OF EGWE VILLAGE OGUTA
(2) CHUKWUNONYE NWANEBO alias CHINA ‘M’ 29YRS OF UMUELE AMAZANO NJABA L.G.A
(3) CHIGOZIE AJUBI ‘M’ 30YRS OF OBIJUJU AKABO OGUTA
(4) CHIDIEBERE NWOKENZE ‘M’ 31YRS OF UMUELE AAZANO NJABA L.G.A
VICTIM RESCUED: MRS. TINA EBI ‘F’ OF NO. 27 ENUGU ROAD OGUTA L.G.A
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: (I) ONE AMERICAN BROWNIE PISTOL NO. NAF 0586 WITH SIX (6) ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION LOADED IN ITS MAGAZINE
(II) FIVE (5) PIECES OF MASTER KEYS
(III) FIVE (5) ASSORTED HANDSETS
(IV) SCREW DRIVER AND SPANNER
The above named suspects were arrested on 04/04/2017 for their involvement in a case of armed robbery of one Jamiu Mohammed of Bakery Quarters Oguta Imo State. However, investigation further revealed that the first suspect AnayoOtiKalu Musa aka General ‘m’ 32yrs was connected with the kidnap of one Mrs. Tina Ebi ‘f’ of No. 27 Enugu Road Oguta that occurred on 16/12/2016 in which he escaped and other members of his gang were arrested and charged to court.

8.5. RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIM:-
VICTIM RESCUED: CHIBUZOR IHEME ‘M’ OF UMUNYEM VILLAGE IN NKWERRE L.G.A.
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: ONE NISSAN TITAN TRUCK WITH REG. NO. ABUJA KUJ 528
Following a tip-off received on 01/04/2017 from UmunakaUgiri in IsialaMbano L.G.A. that one notorious kidnap kingpin KosiemeOnyenze ‘m’ of same village came home in company strange faces, police swung into action, the hoodlums on sighting operatives of the Command took to their heels, a well-coordinated search was conducted and the above named victim who was kidnapped on 31/03/2017 was rescued unhurt and his vehicle recovered. Investigation is on and efforts are on to track down members of the kidnap syndicate.
8.6. ARMED ROBBERY/CULTISM:-
SUSPECT: KELECHUKWU EDOZIE UKA aka ‘BRIEF CASE’
The above named suspect who has been on the wanted list of the Command for his involvement in several cases of armed robbery/cultism was arrested on 09/04/2017. He has been a thorn in the flesh of innocent Imolites.
8.7. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF EXHIBIT:-
SUSPECTS: (1) AGUSI UCHE
(2) ANSELEM ODIDIKA ALL OF ETITI OKABIA IN ORSU L.G.A
EXHIBIT RECOVERED: ONE AMERICAN MADE PISTOL
The above named suspects were arrested at UmuhuOkabia in Orsu L.G.A on 07/04/2017 for armed robbery. Suspects have made useful statements confessing to the crime and they will be charged to court soon.
8.8. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBIT:-
SUSPECT: IBEDE HENRY ‘M’ 22YRS OF OTEDMANK WARRI DELTA STATE
EXHIBIT RECOVERED: ONE LOCALLY MADE BERRETA PISTOL
On the 25/03/2017 operatives of the Command while on routine patrol at UmuokparaNsu in Ehime Mbano L.G.A. arrested the above named suspect while trying to rob an innocent citizen. On sighting the police operatives, other members of his gang took to their heels. Suspect has made useful statement to the police confessing to the crime and efforts are on top gear to track down the fleeing members of the gang. Investigation is still ongoing and suspect would be charged to court soonest..
8.9. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLE:-
SUSPECTS: (1) IBRAHIM ABDULAHI ‘M’ 35YRS
(2) MOHAMMED ALIYU ‘M’ 35YRS
(3) GABRIEL SAMUEL ‘M’ 33YRS
(4) SANI TANIMU
EXHIBIT RECOVERED: ONE HONDA ACCORD WITH REG. NO. OGE-375- AR
Ibrahim Abdulahi ‘m’ was arrested for his involvement in a robbery incident that occurred at Nekede Old Road on 14/01/2017 where one Mrs. Okonya Kennedy Uche was dispossessed of her Honda Accord car with Reg. No. OGE 375 AR on gunpoint. However, following a painstaking investigation, operatives of the Command trailed the other suspects to different locations in Nassarawa and Plateau States respectively where the said vehicle was subsequently recovered.
8.10. IMPERSONATION(FAKE ARMY OFFICERS):-
SUSPECTS: (1) KINGSLEY INYANG ‘M’ FROM AKWA IBOM STATE
(2) EDET OKON ‘M’ FROM AKWA IBOM STATE
(3)VICTOR AKPAN ‘M’ FROM AKWA IBOM STATE
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: (1) TWO PAIRS OF ARMY CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS
(2) A PAIR OF ARMY CAMOUFLAGE
BOOT
(3) ONE ARMY CAMOUFLAGE CAP
(4) ONE COMPAQ 610 LAPTOP
(5) BLACK MILLITARY POLO SHIRT
(6) ONE WHITE MILLITARY POLO SHIRT, (7) ONE AVOFENG WALKIE-TALKIE
(8) ONE METAL DETECTOR
(9) APPLICANTS FILE AND QUESTION PAPERS
(10) FOUR WALKIE-TALKIE CHARGERS
(11) TWO HORSE WHIP
(12) ONE ORL STANDING FAN
(13) ONE DAGGER AND ONE ARMY BELT
(14) ONE BLUE SOLAR LAMP
The above named suspects who specialize in defrauding unsuspecting applicants wishing to join the Nigerian Army were arrested on 04/04/2017 at AmakohiaUbiin Owerri West L.G.A. following a tip-off. Investigation revealed that the affected candidates were ignorantly mandated by the suspects to pay the sum of eight thousand naira (N8, 000.00) and seventy thousand naira N70, 000.00) for medical tests and recruitment/training exercises respectively. Suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court soon.
8.11. TRICYCLE SNATCHERS:-
SUSPECTS: (1) CHIJINDU OFILI ‘M’ 32YRS OF ILLAH DELTA STATE (DISMISSED POLICE OFFICER)
(2) AMAFOR CHIDI ‘M’ 34YRS OF ACHARA UMUAKA NJABA L.G.A
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: THREE (3) TRICYCLES (KEKE)
The above named suspects who specialize in drugging unsuspecting tricycle operators (keke riders) and snatching their tricycles from them were arrested on 24/03/2017 at Orji in Owerri North L.G.A. following a tip-off. Investigation further revealed that the tricycles were snatched from Obigbo in Rivers State and brought down to Imo State. Investigation in ongoing and suspects would be charged to court soon.
8.12. ARREST OF STEALING SUSPECTS:-
SUSPECT: (1) SHETIMA MOHAMMED ‘M’ OF KANO STATE
(2) MOKAN JONAH PHILIP ‘M’ OF ADAMAWA STATE
(3) UZOUKWU ODINAKA ‘M’ OF OBODO AMAIMO IN IKEDURU L.G.A. The above named suspects were arrested on the 26/03/2017 while stealing long span aluminium roofing sheets and alumaco frames from the newly constructed school building at Amaimo Central School. Investigation is still on and suspects would be charged to court soon.
8.14. ARREST OF CULTIST
SUSPECT: OBICHUKWU OBIJI ‘M’
EXHIBIT RECOVERED: ONE LOCALLY MADE SHOT GUN
The above named suspect who claimed to be a renounced cultist was arrested on 09/04/2017 along UzoMmiri road Nekede in possession of a locally made short gun. Investigation is ongoing and suspect will be charged accordingly.
8.15. ARREST OF CULTIST/MURDER SUSPECT
SUSPECT: TOCHI CHILAKA ‘M’ AKA TOSHIBA
EXHIBITS RECOVERED: (I) ONE (1) LOCALLY MADE DOUBLE BARREL PISTOL
(II) TWO (2) LIVE CATRIDGES
(III) ONE (1) BLACK MACHETE
(IV) UNDISCLOSED SUM OF MONEY
(V) ONE (1) YELLOW PARSUN GENERATOR
(VI) ONE (1) WHITE 24” INCHES LG TV
The above named suspect was arrested by operatives of the Command on 15/03/2017 at Akwakuma in Owerri Norh LGA where luck ran out on him after he had robbed one Franca Edom ‘f’ at gun point of undisclosed sum of money. He is a rusticated student of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education; a member of the Black Axe Confraternity and a notorious criminal who has been on the wanted list of the Police Command. He has made useful statements to the Police confessing to have been involved in many criminal activities in the state including arm robbery, burglary/stealing as well as other drug related offences. He is also responsible for the murder of one Chinedu Stephen Akagha ‘m’ 35years who was shot to death by two armed men opposite Chibyke Filling Station, Akwakuma in November, 2016.
SUMMARY OF ARRESTS MADE:
Kidnapping = 10
Kidnapped victims rescued = 5
Armed Robbery = 12
Cultism = 2
Impersonation (Fake Army Officers) = 3
Tricycle Snatchers = 2
Child Stealing = 2
Stealing = 3
No. of Vehicle recovered = Four (4) vehicles and Three (3) Tricycles.
No. of Arms/Ammunition recovered = Three (3) AK 47 rifles, Two (2) American made pistols, Two (2) locally made pistols and a catchment of ammunition.