The Imo State Police Command has announced the arrest of 125 suspects in connection with various criminal offences, News About Nigeria reports.
According to Commissioner Aboki Danjuma, the arrests were made over the past few weeks as part of the Command’s intensified efforts to combat crime and ensure the safety of citizens.
The suspects were apprehended for crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, and murder to unlawful possession of firearms and hard drugs.
The Commissioner revealed that the arrests were made possible through intelligence gathering, surveillance, and coordinated raids on criminal hideouts.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Henry Okoye, issued a press release making available the details of the arrests to journalists.
The release highlighted the command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring that Imo State remains a safe and secure environment for all.
He said the command achieved success through the concerted effort of its officers and men towards combating crime.
The release further stated that one of the significant inroads the command made in breaking criminal syndicates was the recovery of 500 kg of weed suspected to be cannabis sativa from a couple that specialised in dealing with illicit drugs.
According to him, “Intelligence-led raid on a suspected criminal hideout on 27/06/2024 at Ofuzor Afor Egbu in Owerri North LGA of Imo State, by operatives of the command’s anti-narcotics squad led to the arrest of a couple named Stanley Joseph Onyebuchi, ‘m’ 45yrs and Ngozi Joseph ‘m’ 35 yrs who are suspected dealers of all kinds of hard drugs substances.
“Recovered from them include nine bags of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa, weighing over 500 kg, crystal meth, hard drug substances, and a Toyota Sienna, Reg No: FST 39 GY, they use in distributing the prohibited drugs.
“Three other suspects, namely Ihegeme Williams ‘m’ 27yrs, Micheal Ifeanyi ‘m’ 32yrs, and Chidera Gerald ‘m’ 27yrs who are suspected buyers were also arrested at the hideout.
“On interrogation, the couple confessed to the crime, admitting that they moved into the sale of hard drugs in a bid to get rich quickly.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of a thorough investigation.”
The command also discovered a baby factory where children are born mostly by teenagers and sold.
Operatives at Shell Camp Divisional Headquarters led to the arrest of Mr. Chukwudinma Umunnakwe and his wife Comfort, who were operating the baby factory at the World Bank in Owerri in the name of running an orphanage home, during which eight pregnant girls were rescued.
The CP assured the public of the willingness and readiness of the command to eradicate criminalities in the state and enjoined citizens to always give support to security operatives by reporting any suspicious movement they observed within their vicinity.
