The Abia State Police Command said it has arrested 60 suspected criminals, comprising 58 males and two females, from October to December 2023.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, who briefed the press on behalf of the commissioner, said the command devised and implemented effective administrative and operational initiatives that yielded remarkable results.
According to ASP Chinaka, the command achieved significant milestones in curtailing incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping, and vandalism of government property during the period, with several suspects arrested and various exhibits recovered.
Some of the exhibits include firearms of different specifications, 10 vehicles, eight tricycles, railway slippers, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs, among others.
According to the police PRO, some kidnapped victims and trafficked children were safely rescued with stolen vehicles and tricycles recovered during the period in review.
She further said that a good number of cases were charged to various courts of law, out of which 12 were successfully prosecuted and convictions gained.
The cases involved rape, defilement, stealing, malicious damage, assault, threat of violence, burglary, and murder.
ASP Chinaka also reeled out the registration numbers of the tricycles recovered as UMA 27VQ,
HAF 152QG, ACH 919QT, RLU 713QH, BLF 254QG, and UML 710QJ. One tricycle, however, was without a number plate.
Among the vehicles recovered, two had registration numbers: LSR 906FJ and CYS 7898.
Some of the suspects arrested for various crimes were paraded at the Abia State Police Headquarters. Also displayed were different sizes of guns and tricycles recovered from them.
Speaking to the journalists, one of the suspects, who simply gave his name as Udeh from Enugu State, said he was arrested by the police while conveying some aluminium products he ‘bought somewhere.’
Addressing journalists in his office after the parade, Abia State Commissioner of Police Kenechukwu Onwuemelie said the command is doing everything possible to secure Abia State. The police under his watch are collaborating with the Abia State government and other security agencies to provide security for Abia residents, he stated.
Onwuemelie assured residents of the state and visitors of adequate security during the Yuletide and urged everyone to operate under the ambit of the law.
