Police: 150 suspects arrested, 61 guns recovered in Imo within one year

The Imo police command says it arrested 150 suspects linked to kidnapping and “terrorism” within one year in the state.

Rabiu Hussaini, Imo commissioner of police, announced this on Friday when he received Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, the state capital.

According to Hussaini, the command also recovered 61 guns, as well as 27 vehicles from suspects.

“Between the months of January 2021 and January 2022, the unit arrested a total of 105 kidnappers/armed robbers, 45 terrorists, and recovered 27 vehicles of different makes and assorted caliber of arms and ammunition,” he said.

Items said to have been recovered included “1 GPMG rifle, 12 AK-47 rifles, four assault rifles, 18 pump action guns, five locally-made GPMG rifles, eight double-barrel guns, 13 cut-to-size locally-made pistols, 180 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition, 60 rounds of live assault ammunition, 82 rounds of live cartridges, 14 locally-made hand grenade explosives and 15 locally-made improvised explosives”.

The police also said it recovered “different denominations of Biafran currencies, 12 Biafran flags, 17 Biafran berets, 16 pairs of Biafran uniforms, five Biafran masquerade costumes, one human skull, various brands of black charms, 16 pairs of military uniforms, eight police base sets, six walkie talkies, various number plates of vehicles and motorcycles”.

The police commissioner asked the governor to look into the deplorable state of roads leading to the command, and also sought the provision of adequate water supply and accommodation for officers.

He also thanked Uzodimma for providing support to security operatives to achieve the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.