BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

THE war against crime and criminality in the Imo state has begun to yield some fruitful results with the recent arrest and recovery of arms and ammunition by detectives attached to the state police command. Evidently, social and commercial life has since picked up tremendously in the state as the state police command has declared a zero tolerance for crime in the state. Before now, it was common knowledge for innocent citizens to be brazenly attacked by armed robbers while the hydra-headed monster called kidnapping took the center stage. It was therefore, true to say that the present adminis-tration under Governor Ikedi Ohakim inherited quite a number of challengings of which armed robbery and kidnapping were part.

Joshua Ughapu and Chidi Benjamin

However, in a spirited effort to stem the ugly tide, the Governor took the bull by horns by first and foremost refurbishing commu-nication gadgets of the police command and made it possible for one police division to contact the other without difficulty. He bought and distributed brand new vehicles to all the security outfits operating in the state, assisted families of those who died in active service financially. Apart from Operation Festival, the Anti Terrorism Squad, a security outfit charged with the responsibility of fighting crime and criminals, especially kidnappers and armed robbers was established to beef up the already existing outfits.

The Governor then applied what has today become the master stroke. He promised to give N1 million to any person that gives credible information to the state police command, which ultimately leads to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers. A lot of people did not think he was serious but that has turned the tide against criminals operating in the state.

Police records have since proved that informants are regularly smiling to their banks, while the ranks of criminals are being decimated steadily. The immediate past Commissioner of Police (as he then was), Mr. Aloy Okorie, who was appreciative of the command’s successes once said gleefully: “The harder the criminals come, the harder they fall.” Therefore, with all these logistics on ground, the police command has continued to record commendable achievement in its quest to make the state a safer place for indegens and visitors alike.

On January 30, 2011, the command acted on a tip off and raided a criminal hideout at Nwangele local government area of Imo State and four suspects were arrested. When a thorough search was conducted in the camp, one AK 47 rifle loaded with double magazines, one RPG shooting rifle, 57 fully loaded AK 47 magazines, 131 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and two vehicle registration plate numbers were recovered. Other items recovered from the hoodlums included two fully loaded assault rifle magazines, one refrigerator, two masks, two anti tank rocket launchers, five dynamites with 10 propellers, nine bundles of charm and a N304,690 cash. In all, about 1,631 rounds of AK 47 ammunition were recovered in this single operation. The command also smashed a robbery gang that was operating along the Port Harcourt_Owerri highway. On February 2, 2011, one Joshua Ughapu was arrested while trying to collect a ransom of N1 million offered by the family of a kidnap victim. The operatives immediately left with the suspect to Izombe where the victim was held hostage and was consequently rescued unhurt. The owner of the house, Collins Ukachi, who the police believed to be acting in consonance with the gang, was also arrested.

On January 31, 2011, a notorious armed robber and a kidnap kingpin was nabbed by the police, following a tip off. To prove that its area of jurisdiction is no longer a safe haven for criminals, the command arrested Mr. Chidi Benjamin, who had in his possession 138 fully loaded magazines February 10, 2011. Other deadly items recovered from the suspect’s Toyota Camry car with registration number AX 293 ABC, included five AK 47, two AK 49 rifles and 4,140 rounds of life ammunition. Apparently alarmed by the development, Governor Ikedi Ohakim made an unscheduled visit to the State Police Headquarters, Owerri, where the suspect and his deadly cargo were on display.

Speaking to journalists after the visit, Ohakim reaffirmed his earlier promise to reward every credible informant with the sum of N1 million, adding that his administration will continue to do everything possible and within the ambit of law, to curb crime in the state.

Crime Alert gathered that the Command got a credible tip- off from an informant and laid ambush for the merchant of death and when the suspect was flagged down along Bank Road, Owerri, he refused to stop. “Our operatives gave the man a hot chase and when he realized that they were fast closing in on him, he jumped out of the car and made a spirited effort to run away. The police caught him, brought him back to his car before the vehicle was searched”, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Linus Nwaiwu said.

The Police image maker was particularly happy that the recent N1 million promised by Governor Ohakim has been of immense help to the Command and appealed to Imo people to buy into the project and help in eliminating criminals in the state.

Answering question, the suspect, who claimed to be a native of Emohua in Rivers State, said one Mr. Henry gave him the deadly cargo at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport for onward transmission to somebody he did not immediately know his identity. According to Mr. Henry only gave me the telephone number of the person that should receive the materials. I deal in oil and it is this business that brought Henry and I together in Port Harcourt”, the suspect said.

A middle aged man, Obinna Micheal Chukwuemeka, has also been arrested by the police for being in possession of 4,054 duplicate copies of voter registration cards.

The Command is currently working on the suspicion that the cards must have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, especially as the suspect could not give a good account of how he came to have possession of such sensitive electoral materials.

Obinna, who hails from Bende in Abia State but resides at Road One, World Bank Housing Estate, New Owerri, was apprehended February 8, 2011, at about midnight along Concord _Akanchawa road with a bag containing the voter registration cards and some laminating papers.

Answering questions Mr. Michael, who claimed to be a freelance journalist, denied any complicity in the acquisition but rather said that he picked it up along Concord road.

When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Deji Adebanjo, confirmed the arrest and said that the Criminal Investigation Department has commenced investigation into the case. He assured that, “The suspect will appear in court after police investigation”.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu said, “I wish to salute the governor for his support, especially the mandate he gave me to announce a reward of N1 million to anyone who volunteers useful information that would lead to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers or substantial recovery of arms and ammunition This strategy has proved to be very effective and people have started benefitting from it. I therefore call on those who have credible information to come forward.”