Anastasia Okechukwu
The Anambra Police Command has arrested six members of a notorious criminal gang that has long been terrorizing the Eziowelle village, Idemili North Local Government Area in Anambra State, over the weekend.
A statement by the command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the arrest, indicated that three pump action rifles, one barretta handgun, ammo, and other incriminating things that the group used in their deadly activities were found on members of the gang, vanguard report.
It was gathered that the gang have, for long, been using an illegal vigilante group to kidnap, rob, intimidate and harass people in the community and were apprehended after the state police commissioner Echeng Echeng learned about their illicit activities.
They were also alleged to have broken into homes of prominent individuals in the community, stole property, raped female members of their families and kidnapped others, who would later be forced to pay huge sums of money as ransom.
He said: “ The operatives raided Eziowellle community and we have six suspects in custody. The operatives recovered three pump action guns, one Beretta pistol, ammunition and other incriminating items.
“Upon receiving the report of their criminal activities, Commissioner Echeng Echeng swiftly directed the Commander of the Anti-Cult Unit in the state, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Uche Noah, to round up all the criminals involved in the nefarious acts. CSP Uche and his team stormed the town in an operation described as ‘unprecedented in execution’ and rounded up the suspects, despite their stiff resistance and hot exchange of firepower that lasted for hours.
“The police team succeeded in routing them and arrested six of their kingpins while others escaped with serious bullet wounds. Police operations would continue until they are completely flushed out, and their financiers rounded up to make Eziowelle a peaceful town.
“CP Echeng gave stern directives to the police team to arrest all those involved in turning Eziowelle into a hot zone, no matter how highly or lowly placed and charge them to court without delay. Decoy teams have penetrated the town and its environs, and more arrests will soon be carried out.