Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has promised to buy a new gun-boat to support the Nigerian Navy, especially in the ongoing operations to rid the state of criminals.

Obiano’

Obiano’

Obiano made the promise while reacting to the arrest of an arms dealer and four armed robbery suspects by the state Police command.

The governor said the state government would also repair all grounded naval vessels to put them back into operation to enable the Navy secure the state’s water-ways effectively, stressing that some of the arms were smuggled into the state through River Niger.

Expressing delight at the breakthrough recorded by the Police, the governor said: “Ndi Anambra should go home and sleep. This war against criminals will be on through out the life of my administration.

“More criminals, drug barons and arms dealers will be arrested and their routes blocked. All criminals must be prosecuted and if convicted, face the full penalty for their offence. You know kidnapping attracts death penalty. We are going to ensure speedy trial of all those arrested.”

Obiano explained that the war against criminals had entered the second phase which would include going after the criminals, command and control activities, targeting those who supplied them arms and ammunition as well as blocking the routes through which they smuggled arms into the state.

He said a structure was being worked out with the state Chief Judge to accelerate the dispensation of justice, while a special court might be set up to complement the conventional courts to ensure no criminal evaded the law.

Said Governor Obiano: “We can’t afford any delay in the delivery of justice in line with the resolve of this administration to sustain comprehensive fight against the criminals,” the governor assured.

Earlier, Anambra State Police command had recorded another breakthrough in the onslaught against criminals with the arrest of an arms dealer and four armed robbery suspects.

Parading the suspects at the Special Anti-Robbery squad, SARS, headquarters, Awkuzu, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka restated the determination of the command to rid the state of all criminal elements in line with the resolve of the governor to achieve zero tolerance of crime.

According to Mr. Chukwuemeka, the arms dealer, Mr. Alphonsus Ngwu from Ugwuoba in Enugu State, was arrested at his shop at the main market, Onitsha.

The arms recovered from Mr. Ngwu include:  six pump actions guns, one revolver pistol, 6,390 live cartridges, 62 rounds of 5.65mm live ammunition, 74 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, 12 magazines for AK 47 rifle, two magazines for K-2 rifle, some dismantled parts of AK 47, one general purpose machine gun ammunition and one smoke cartridge.

Mr. Chukwuemeka said the arms dealer receives his supply from abroad through one man simply referred to as Alhaji who is also in detention, while some armed robbery suspects had fingered him for supplying arms. He said that the suspect was arrested some time ago but managed to escape until he was rearrested.

The PPRO disclosed that members of the armed robbery gang who specialized in snatching of vehicles were arrested in Ajalli area, Orumba North with two (2) locally made pistols, twelve (12) cartridges and charms while some stolen vehicles have been recovered from them.

The arms dealer admitted that he had been in the business for over fifteen years through smuggling and later selling of the arms. Also speaking, one of the armed robbery suspect Mr. Uchechukwu Orizu said he was arrested with his girlfriend and another member of the gang at Isuofia while trying to rob a woman.