Police arrest 500 armed robbers, 33 MASSOB members, recovers over 247,000 ammunition in Anambra

     

The Anambra state police command yesterday disclosed that it arrested a total of 495 high profile armed robbery, murder and kidnap suspects within the 2013 across the state even as it also recovered 247 arms and 8,496 live ammunition within the year under review.

Addressing journalists at the Police Headquarters Awka, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gwary Usman said that within the year under review, a total number of 495 high profile armed robbers, murder and kidnap suspects were arrested by the operatives of the command while 14 suspects died during the exchange of gun fire with the policemen.

Mr. Usman further disclosed that 182 kidnap suspects were also arrested by the command while over 25 Ak47 rifles, 2Type 06 K2 rifles, 1 Air rifle, 57 locally made pistols and 120 pump Actions guns were recovered from the hoodlums.

Also recovered according to the Commissioner of Police included 3 Toy guns, 15 DGSGs, 9 English Pistols, 3 Cut –to-size guns, 2 SMG rifles, 7SBSG, 1AR-70 rifle, 1 Lar rifle, 1 G3 rifle and total of 8,496 assorted live ammunition.

During the year under review according to the police boss, 164 Magazines, 90, 835 cartridges, 74 vehicles, 26 motorcycles and 2 tricycles were also recovered while 16 cult suspects were arrested by the command during the operations.

He also disclosed that during the operation, 14 suspects mainly armed robbers and kidnappers lost their lives during exchange of gun fire with the police while reiterating the readiness of the command to continue to fight crimes of all sorts across the state.

Mr. Usman also said that the command also foiled several bank robberies across the state during the period and disclosed that over 33 suspected members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSSOB were arrested across the state.

On the proposed local government election slatted for Saturday in the state, the police boss assured the people of the state of security throughout the exercise, adding that the command had initiated security measures to make sure that the election is conducted without any security challenges.