Harvest of criminals in Ebonyi and Delta as AIG Mbu denies ordering shoot at sight of civilians

The Ebonyi and Delta States Police Command have arrested many suspects including a woman involved in series of kidnappings, and car snatching, even as AIG Joseph Mbu denies ordering shoot at sight of civilians.

Their arrest followed the joint operation by the anti-kidnapping squad, anti-robbery squad and Campus Monitoring Unit.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chris Anyawu, an Assistant Superintendent, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested based on reports.   He said the suspects have confessed to the crime. He noted that they owned up to participation in four kidnappings.

Anyanwu said that the kidnap gang always assembled at Spera-in-deo area of Abakaliki, the state capital from where they take off for operations, noting that they usually do not have any particular target in mind, but hunt for flashy cars. He explained that the gang usually operated around Democracy Estate due to its locality and being an easy escape route out of the town.  He said often the suspects hide their victims at an isolated site located in Ezza North, being the birth-place of two of the gang members.

According to him, “while keeping their victims hostage, they collected their ATM cards and withdraw all the money in their accounts.

Items recovered from the suspects include Nissan Titan Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked KSF 576 CW used in kidnapping their last victim; the Toyota Camry belonging to their last victim was recovered in Onitsha, Anambra State.   Also seized were ML 320 Mercedes Benz SUV owned by Mrs. Geraldine Egwu, owned by one of their victims was recovered in Enugu, and SIM cards as well as the sum of N240, 000 cash being money paid for the purchase of a victim’s Toyota Camry, and another  N100, 000 cash which was part of the ransom paid for the release of Ebere Okeke.

He said luck ran out on the suspects on January 8, 2015 at Ndi Okpoto Village in Izzi Local Government Area when 80-year-old Agara Michael was abducted at about 1135am by four armed men to an unknown destination.

“Efforts of the anti-kidnapping squad of the command led to the rescue of the victim at a primary school in Ikwo Local Government Area.

“The ransom of N600, 000 paid by the victim’s family was recovered from a heap of sharp sand where it was buried at the first suspect’s block industry along Afikpo Road, Abakaliki.  Efforts to track down the remaining gang members was in progress while all the suspects would soon arraigned,” he said.

The suspects include Nkpuechina, Igwe (a.k.a Awilo), Odoh, Ude, Udoji, Martins, Nweze (a.k.a Shaolin) all other names withheld.

Four suspected car snatchers arrested 

As well the Delta State police command has arrested four suspected car snatchers in Warri.

The suspects were picked up after stealing a car from the owner at gunpoint.

The police received a distress call that a Toyota Corolla car marked, AKD 14 CL, ash colour was snatched from the owner at James Manager Close, Ugborikoko, Warri.

Crime Watch Today gathered that after snatching the car, one of the gang members was instructed to take the vehicle to the receiver.

While the gang driver was taking the car to the receiver, the police accosted him.During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the vehicle had just been stolen.

The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, told Crime Watch Today that through the confession of the suspect, other gang members were arrested by the police. Kalu said: “The suspect’s confession led detectives from Abraka Division to Warri, where other members of the gang, Solomon, Enabimi, Dase and Akpede were arrested.”

Kalu said the car was recovered from the suspect, noting that they would be charged to court.

Meanwhile, Kalu said a suspect has also been arrested for allegedly attempting to kill a man.  He was arrested by some residents of Sapele, when he was attempting to kill another man.

Trouble started for the suspect, simply identified as Tobore, when he was walking around a  house at odd hour.

Kalu said: “When Tobore was challenged by the complainant and tenant, the suspect brought out a gun and attempted to kill him.

She said Tobore was overpowered by other occupants of the residence.

“He was arrested and handed over to the police.

She said that one locally-made pistol was recovered from him. Kalu said the suspect was still facing interrogation.

Mbu: I didn’t order shoot-on-sight order to policemen

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone Two, Mr Joseph Mbu, has refuted some reports claiming that he ordered his men to shoot innocent citizens on sight.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olugbenga Adeoye, a Chief Superintendent, said contrary to the reports, Mbu is passionate about maintaining law and order, and strict adherence to the Rule of Laws at all time.

“The AIG is a firm believer in the Rule of Law which he signed to uphold.  He reminded his policemen not to be cowardly but to be guided by Force Order 237 with the use of their firearms, which was not meant to be used to defend themselves but also others in the society including fellow police officers when their lives are in danger.”

The statement noted that Mbu had been busy organising training for his men specifically on their duties during election saying policemen are not to be seen with arms within certain radius distance to the polling booths, saying quick response squads would be created to treat distress calls and protect electoral officials.

It debunked the insinuations that Mbu has threatened to arrest any governor seen around the polling units.  “The AIG was clearly and deliberately quoted out of context as what he said was that no highly-placed individuals in the society (VIPs) who have police escorts and other forms of personal guards would be allowed within the voting area accompanied by such retinue of escorts.”

Moreover, it stressed that Mbu was posted to Zone Two as part of routine deployment by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and not primarily for the general elections to be used by anyone or group as being insinuated by mischief-makers.