Police arrest 141 crime suspects, rescue 23 kidnap victims in two weeks

The Abia state police command says its operatives have arrested 141 suspects for carious crimes and rescued 23 kidnap victims in two weeks.

Maureen Chinaka, spokesperson for the command, announced the arrests on Thursday during a press briefing.

Chinaka noted that the detainees include 110 men and 31 women.

She said the police also recovered a range of weaponry and other items, including five locally crafted single-barrel shotguns, four double-barrel shotguns, two long guns, a pistol, five live cartridges, a spent cartridge, a vehicle, an auto-rickshaw, two motorcycles, and two bicycles.

“Additional items seized included suspected cannabis, illicit drugs, 56 rustled cattle, two saw blades, a bag containing a Nokia handset, a spanner, two large scissors, two pliers, a small torch, vehicle components, armoured cables, two gas cylinders, a screwdriver, an axe, and assorted tools,” she said.

When questioned by reporters, Tochi Onyendi, a 24-year-old suspect from Isialangwa South, claimed he was unaware he had been working on a stolen vehicle linked to a murder.

Onyendi, added that he was called by his brother, who remains on the run, to repair the vehicle when police apprehended him.

Chinaka also addressed an October 18 attack by unidentified assailants on the Lokpanta cattle market in Umunneochi and Isuikwuato LGAs, where seven youths were killed, with one person injured, and 65 cattle were rustled.

“Police operatives, in collaboration with Seriki Hausa local guards, have so far recovered 56 cattle. Efforts are ongoing to retrieve the remaining livestock and apprehend the attackers,” she said.

Danladi Isa, Abia police commissioner, spoke on the command’s initiative to deploy CCTV in “critical areas” across the state.

He noted that discussions with partners are underway to secure funds for the project.

“This project is financially intensive, but we are working on bringing it to fruition,” he said.

Isa harped on the command’s security plan ahead of local government elections and year-end festivities.

“Aba and Umuahia have been divided into strategic patrol zones. Our teams will conduct thorough patrols, as well as stop-and-search operations, to ensure safety. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience to the public,” he said.