Policing Imo State: ‘Our Report Card’

Innocent Ilozuoke

By Innocent Ilozuoke
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Parry Osayande, DIG, rtd, and members of the commission paid a working visit to the Police Zone 9 H/Q Umuahia. At the occasion, State Command Police Commissioners from the zone (Abia, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Anambra) presented their report cards. Below are excerpts from the report card presented by the Police Commissioner, Imo State Police Command, Innocent Ilozuoke.
The task of policing Imo State is onerous and very demanding because of a number of factor. Imo State derives it name from Imo River and the state covers an area of about 5,100sqkm with a population of 2,485,499 million people. The population density varies from 230 persons per sq km in Oguta and Egbema areas to about 1,400 persons per sq km in Mbaise and Orlu areas. The high population density has led to intensified pressure on land, forest and other natural resources with its attendant crime wave.
In the first quarter of this year, this Command was rocked and bedeviled with series of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crime cases which made Imo State unsafe. But with sheer determination we have been able to put the situation behind us. Today, one can say without any contradiction that the state is one with the lowest crime wave in the country.
When I assumed office as the Commissioner of Police, I immediately introduced some crime strategies. With the support of His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, officers and men of the Police Command and the public, these strategies worked and sanity was restored. His Excellency, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and the people of Imo State have severally acknowledged in public functions that peace and security have been restored in the state. We shall continue to sustain the momentum.
The Honourable Chairman, and member of the Commission, I don’t intend to bore you with the chronicles of breakthroughs and remarkable successes recorded by the Command recently, but a few of them below are worthy of mention.
(2) Crime Fighting Strategies
The effective crime fighting strategies put in place include:
1) Patrols;
a) Motorised or vehicular patrols
b) Foot patrols
c) Joint military/police 24 hours patrols
2.) Establishment of nipping points
3.) Stop and Search operation
4.) Regular raids on black spots
5.) Diligent prosecution of criminals
6.) Ensuring effective communication system at the Command Headquarters and in all the Division
7.) Establishment of Quick Response Centres in the 27 Local Government Areas to ensure 24-hour vehicular patrols.
Armed Robbers Arrested:
During the period under reference, the crime-fighting strategies put in place by the Command yielded dividends. This led to the arrest of over 200 armed robbery suspects who specialised in highway and bank robberies. Amongst them are:
Sylvester Christopher ‘m’ Christian Ananti Ifeanyi ‘m’ Chidiebere Okoye ‘m’, Maltina Nzubechi ‘m’ Peter Amere ‘m’ and Abeche Aghanti ‘m’. This was the gang that robbed First Bank, Intercontinental Bank and GTB Bank at Okigwe, Imo State. They were apprehended and exhibits were recovered from them during the period under reference. They have been charged to court and prosecuted.
A gang of car snatching syndicate was also smashed during the period under review. The gang members include Sunday Oghodo ‘in’ Ifeanyi Nnaji ‘m’ Emeka Nwaeke ‘m’ Oko Ibe ‘m’ Cletus Okonkwo ‘m’ . These are ferocious Highway armed robbers. They were caught with exhibits during a gun battle with operatives of the Command, following a tip off. They have been charged to court and prosecuted.
A two-man car snatching syndicate was equally smashed. The duo are (1) Hamilton Emeka ‘m’ and (2) Modestus Emyoku. A Toyota corolla car was recovered from them.
Another four-man Bank Robbery gang was also penetrated and dismantled. These were some of those who robbed UBA Bank, Nwaoriubi branch, Mbaitoli L. G. A. of the State. They were also arrested with exhibits. They are (1) Christopher Ibe ‘m’ (2) Josephine Onyema ‘m’ (3) Chibuzor Anyaobu ‘m’ (4) Solomon Oguchiegwu. Three other members were mowed down during exchange of gun shots with the Police. They are (1) Kelechi Nwakor alias Pakele ‘m’ (2) Mbomboyi Gab Ibe ‘m’ and (3) Felix, surname unknown. They have been charged to court and prosecuted.
Other Armed Robbers arrested include (1) Kingsley Awurum ‘m’ (2) Benjamin Ejiogu ‘m’ (3) Herbert Njoku ‘m’ (4) Kelechi Nwosu and seven others who are students of Nekede Polytechnic Owerri, Imo State.
Paul Nwanna ‘m’ (2) Sunny Boy Anyanwu ‘m’ (3) Emeka Ogu ‘m’ (4) Josaiah Orji ‘m’ (a FUTO student) (5) Francis Wardie ‘m’ (6) Okumchle Gerekanna ‘m’ (7) Chinonso Obijuru ‘m’ and (8) Chimezie Obrokum ‘m’ (9) Anayo Anamban ‘m and (10) Desmond Onyema ‘m’.
Again, acting on a tip off, my men, with the assistance of the joint Military and Police patrol team accosted a Mitsubishi bus, white in colour, with Reg. No XN 263 LSD registered in Lagos occupied by five hoodlums at Njaba along Owerri Onitsha road. In trying to screen the occupants, four of them suddenly jumped into the bush while one of them Chukwunweole Okeke was arrested. When searched, an AK 47 riffle with two magazines and forty-six rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed in the bus were recovered. Also recovered are the sum of one hundred and forty-eight thousand, four hundred and forty naira (148,440.00), one .9mm live ammunition, three Nokia handsets and the said Mitsubishi bus. The suspects have been charged to court.
Also arrested are two armed robbery suspects who are also members of a notorious car snatching syndicate. They are:
1. Hamilto Emeka Ndu ‘m’ of Amaeke Item in Bende LGA of Abia State
2. Modestus Njoku ‘m’ of Ezinihitte Mbaise.
Detectives also recovered from the syndicate one Toyota Corolla 1.6 property of Fidelity Bank Owerri Branch. The suspects have been charged to court and prosecuted.
On the 23/05/08, men of the Command stormed an uncompleted building opposite Renny’s fast food joint along whetheral road, Owerri where they arrested about forty persons who gathered there. It was believed that the suspects were planning to carry out despicable acts. A break down of the number of suspects arrested shows that twenty-eight of them were males while twelve are females. When the team conducted search in the vicinity, they recovered five locally made pistols, two of which are revolvers, two rounds of live cartridge, one MB100 Mercedes Benz Bus, five rounds of 9mm ammunition, two packets each of red and white candle and two machetes. The arrested suspects have been charged to court.
On the 02/06/08, acting on a tip off, men of the Command swooped on a criminal hideout where four members of a notorious armed robbery gang led by one Alexander Ibe a.k.a “Miller” m of Okpo Nkuma in Ahaizu Mbaise were arrested. The gang was perfecting plans to operate along Aba-Owerri Road, precisely at Ulakwo. It is pertinent to note that this said gang leader had long been on the wanted list of the Command for series of armed robbery operations within and outside the State. The suspects have been charged to court and prosecuted.
On the 29th September 2008, there was a distress call that armed robbers were operating at Amaraku area of Isiala Mbano. Men of the Command were detailed to the scene where they arrested F/No 401451 PC Isaac Ewah attached to Ogwa Police Station in Mbaitoli and two others namely; Semon Njoku and promise Chimezie in the act. A locally made pistol was recovered from them. The suspects have been charged to court.
On the 29th September 2008, . Christian Osueke and Felix Chukwu were arrested during one of their robbery operations at Tetlow by Mbaise road Owerri. The third member of the gang Okechukwu escaped with bullet wounds. Efforts are on to arrest and bring him to book while the two arrested suspects have been charged to court.
Nsebuchukwu Madu and Emeka Okonkwo were members of a notorious gang that specialised in robbing luxurious buses. They were arrested by men of the Command on information given by one of our reliable informants. It is pertinent to mention here that the second suspect Emeka Okonkwo was a driver of one of the luxurious Bus companies and provides information with which the gang robbed. Both confessed to series of Luxurious Bus robbery. The Command is now closing in on the other members of the gang, while both have been charged to court.
On 20th September 2008, men of the Command arrested one Friday Nnamchi, male of Amagu Nze in Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State while on robbery expedition at Area C World Bank Owerri. Crack detectives also recovered one Pump Action gun, three live cartridges and four torch lights from him. The Command has commenced full scale investigation to determine if he was acting alone or in a group.
Men of the Command arrested Uchenna Nwachukwu, male of Oparanadim, Ahiazu Mbaise immediately after robbing a lady victim of her handset and other valuables. When searched, the men recovered one short locally made pistol and all the valuables robbed from the victim. Frantic efforts are in progress to ascertain if he was acting alone.
One Uzoma Onwuegbulam from Emekuku, Owerri North, who is a member of a notorious gang of armed robbers who robbed their victim and raped the wife at World Bank Housing Estate, Owerri was arrested by crack detectives and during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime while the four remaining suspects are still at large. However the Command is closing in on them.
On the 13th of August 2008, the duo of Prince Uchenna and Chibuzor Okey were arrested in Enugu State by men of the Command for their complicity in an armed robbery case in which they equally snatched the Honda Accord car of the victim. They have been charged to court.
Samuel Asoka, a member of a notorious gang that was terrorising Obazu Mberi and its environs was arrested and when searched, a locally made shot gun, a Police bullet proof vest, seven live cartridges and some GSM handsets were recovered from him. On interrogation, he confessed to have been involved in numerous robbery operations. He will soon appear in Court.
The men of the Command arrested the following suspects: Chinedu Uba male of Amadiehi Ubulu in Oru West, Darlington Onyegbosi male of Ubulu and Alexanda Ugochukwu ‘m’ of Umuoko Nkwerre and recovered two locally made guns, two live cartridges, Kasea Motocycle with Reg No. Abia QE 881 EZA, the sum of N17,000.00 and other items they robbed from their victims. They have confessed to several robbery operations and have been identified by some of their victims. They will soon appear in court.
Ejike Orjikwe, Kelechi Ngwu and Obinna Obigwe, all were arrested on 10/09/08 for their complicity in the robbery of a female victim at Amafu village in Ihube Okigwe on the 6/09/08. On interrogation, both confessed to the crime. Items recovered from them include;
i. Two single barrel locally made gun
ii. One short double barrel locally made gun
iii. Two .9mm live ammunition
iv. One expanded cartridge
v. The sum of Ten thousand naira They will soon appear in court.
Following a tip off on 18/06/2008, a team of detectives from the Department went to Imo State Modern Poultry at Avutu Obowo and arrested three suspects who were vandalizing and stealing properties of Imo State Government at the modern poultry Avutu. Their loots and the lorry with which they were conveying the stolen properties were impounded. They have made useful statements and will soon appear in Court.
On 29/5/2008 at about 200hrs, at Umulogho Obowo, a gang of armed robbers blocked the road and robbed vehicle No. XC 922 UMU and the passengers. Sequel to a tip-off, few days later, the vehicle which they drove to an unknown destination was recovered and one Ugochukwu Bwokoye of Umungwa village in Obowo was arrested and has since appeared in Court and was reminded in prison custody.
On the 20th day of July, 2008 at Owalla Uratta, some armed robbers stormed the shop of one Stanly Nwosu brandishing cutlass and locally made pistol. They allegedly demanded for money but when he could not give them, they snatched his Nokia handset. Detectives from this Command spread their dragnet to nooks and crannies of the town. This paid off as they were able to arrest one Peter Iheanacho who confessed to the crime and led detectives to arrest one Solomon Ojiri from whom the locally made gun they used was recovered. The suspects have been charged to court.
On the 7th July, 2008, one John Adibe ‘m’ of Umuerim Nekede in Owerri West went to drop his wife at Holy Trinity Church, Nekede. Shortly after he had dropped his wife and was about to return home, three armed men accosted him and at gun point robbed him of his Honda Halla car. with Reg. No. AA 2353 BDG and two GSM sets. Detectives from the Command and Soldiers on patrol pursued the robbers along Aba road where one of the robbers was shot dead and the snatched car recovered.
On 18/8/2008 two suspects viz Nwachi Uzoma ‘m’ and Chukwudi Iwuoha ‘m’ residing at No. 145 Owerri Road, Okigwe, were arrested for robbing one Prince Uche Amadi ‘m’ of Umuogei village, Okigwe. Armed with cutlasses and Torch lights, they dispossessed the complainant of his Motorola handset, one Sagem and N2, 200.00 cash. They confessed to the crime. The two suspects have been charged to court.
28/4/2008 three identified armed robbers were arrested at Garki, Okigwe. The three armed robbers, namely (1) Chinedu Budus ‘m’, Okigwe (2) Sanusi Mohammed, Katsina State and (3) Zubairu Amadu, Katsina State, and others who escaped, robbed at gun point a Toyota Bus Reg. Benue LD 49 TKP, loaded with passengers, travelling from Benue to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Recovered from the suspects were one Dagger. They robbed the passengers of (1) one Nokia 115 handset (2) particulars of the vehicle and (3) other valuables. Two of the suspects were identified by victims. They were later charged to court.
One Raymond Anthony Udo ‘m’ of Ikot Essendomo L. G. A. of Akwa Ibom State, while conveying nineteen (19) live cows valued at N 1. 68m from Lokpa in Abia State to Akwa Ibom in a Mercedes Benz 1013 with Peg. NO. XB 633 NGK, driven by Patrick Mark ‘m’, was ambushed by a gang of 10 armed robbers at Garki Area of Okigwe, Imo State. The armed robbers robbed the complainant of the 19 cows and the vehicle. Following information received. Detectives were immediately dispatched to Port-Harcourt, Rivers state where 18 out of 19 cows were recovered on 24/7/08 and tour suspects arrested. One of the Cows died on its own. The suspects were later charged to court and prosecuted.
Sgt. Ekeh Godwin serving at CID Umuahia, reported that a gang of robbers attacked him in his resident at Area N. Zone five World Bank Housing Estate Owerri and matcheted him on the left hand. Two of the robbers namely: Emmanuel Emeagi aka Emma Lagos ‘m’ of World Bank and one other were arrested. Some quantity of Indian Hemp was recovered. They confessed to the crime and both suspects were later charged to court and prosecuted.
Recovered Items:
(a) Firearms:
(i) Five AK 47 Riffles with 40 magazines with 2,000 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.
(ii)Seventy locally made pistols
(iii) Some lengths of Dynamite (explosive)
(b) Vehicles
(i) Twenty Mercedes Benz Cars.
(ii) Seven Mazda Cars.
(iv) Two Volkswagen Jeeps.
(v) Three Honda Legend.
Other Cars
(1) Ten Jeeps
(2) Fifteen Toyota Corolla cars
(3) Twelve Toyota Camry cars
(4) Seventeen L300 Mitsubishi buses
(5) Five Toyota Hiace buses
(6) Three BMW cars
(7) Nine Honda Saloon/Jeep cars
(8) One Rover Saloon car
(9)Five Peugeot cars
Monetary Exhibit: N6.250m
Murder:
During this period, several murder cases were reported, Investigated and prosecuted as follows:
On 5/1/08, one Anuforo Ukaegbu of Umuleke Obitti Ohaji was murdered and burn inside his house by a gang of Arsonists led by one Festus Ahaji. In a painstaking investigation, Detectives from the State CID, after several months, arrested Festus Ahaji in Port Harcourt on 22/5/08. His arrest led to the arrest of one Kelechi Andu in Benin City on 27/8/08. Both confessed to the crime and have aready been charged to court and prosecuted.
2. On 27/5/2008, one Samuel Onikwe of Igbore in Abia State was murdered by his bossom friend, Chidi Ihekume. The body was allegedly thrown into the Otamiri River, Owerri, Imo State. Through the doggedness of Detectives from the State CID, the Corpse was eventually recovered and the killer charged to court and prosecuted.
3. On 6/6/2008 at about 1145 at Umudele Irete, during a Church vigil one Maduabuchi Onuoha, Uzondu Okwaraobi and five others engaged themselves in a fight in the process of which Maduabuchi Onuoha stabbed Uzondu Okwaraobi to death with a kitchen knife. The suspect Maduabuchi Onuoha was arrested the exhibits knife recovered, and the suspect latter charged to court and prosecuted.
4. The multiple Murder of four persons namely Romanus Alonye, Augustine Otunne and Evaristus Nwokeukwu was reported. The deceased were shot dead at Mmahu Esbema. The following seven suspect were arrested in connection with the murder. They are Osita Ogbiri, Santus Eze, Henry Nnokeukwu, Ifeanyi Igwe, Ngozi Nwokeukwu, Goodluck Okoro and Uzoma Onyema. They were later charged to court and prosecuted.
Kidnapping:
During the relevant period under review, over ten separate syndicates of evasive kidnappers were penetrated and smashed, among which are: A syndicate of five members viz (1) Nnamdi Ihenetu Uzoma (2) Chimechi Iwuze (relation of the victim) (3) Joe and (4) Onyinyechi G. all students of Federal University of technology, Owerri and (5) Chuka (a student of Imo State University), were arrested in respect of their complicity in kidnapping.
On the 24/05/09, acting on information from one of our reable informants, combined team of detectives arrested the under listed suspects in Rivers State for their involvement in the kidnap of the wife of the Managing Director of ABC Transport Company, Mrs Ngozi Frank Nneji and the father of one Mr.Tony Chukwu. They are:
1. Micheal Okwuowu
2. Angel Gabriel
3. Tanko Abrahim
4. Patrick Anayo Nani
5. Oparaku Uchechukwu
6. Ohiri Chima
7. Emmanuel Oguzie
On 1st June, 2008 one Chima Obi Azuona and three others all of Orji Owerri North L.G.A. who disguised themselves as staff of MTN kidnapped one Chief Sylvanus Udenkwo of Umudi Nkwerre and took him to an unknown place demanding a ransom of 5million Naira from the son of the victim. A crack team of the Command swung into action and successfully arrested all the suspects and rescued the victim.
On the 6/09/08, at Ihiagwa in Owerri West, dare devil kidnappers kidnapped a six-month old baby, Ugonna Obioha, ‘f’, from Amanato, Ideato South and subsequently demanded fabulous amount as ransom. Men of this Command tactfully rescued the baby without the payment of any ransom to the kidnappers who took to their heels when their hideout was raided.
On the 12/09/08, at Nnempi, Oru East LGA, 85-year old Ndukwe lyinagoro, was kidnapped and a huge sum of money lemanded as ransom. Men of the Command rescued the victim vithout paying ransom. The kidnapers who fled their hideout are still being trailed.
When one Benneth Emeto was kidnapped by four armed men on the 27/7/08, the Command through sheer determination and relentless effort rescued him from captivity without the payment of any form of ransom. Men of the Command also arrested the two arrow heads of the crime namely; Eze C.I. Ihejirika and Chigozie Ekwomonyeaba.
On 23/8/2008, five suspects were arrested at Okigwe over the kidnapping on 28/7/08 at a Hostel in Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) of one Ada Ogbonna. All the five suspects were undergraduates of ABSU. Father of the Kidnapped girl paid a ransom of N3m to the suspects before her release. Ada Ogbonna contrived her kidnapping with the other suspects. Names of the suspects are (1) Andrew Chukwu ‘m’ (2) Innocent Nwokenta ‘m’ (3) Mortuaya Olisa ‘m’ (4) Ikechukwu (5) Ada Ogbonna ‘f’. All five suspects will soon appear in court.
Cultism:
The Command ceaselessly beamed its search light on cult activities in the tertiary institutions in the state. The concerted efforts paid off when more than twenty cultists were arrested, charged to court and prosecuted. Some of them are (1) Chinasa Nzenwa ‘f’ (2) Chikodi Agwara f (3) Akinjiobi Ubanna ‘f’ (4) Jemimah Opara ‘f’ (5) Ogechi Opara ‘f’ and (6) Perpetua Oguma ‘f’. under graduates of Nekede Polytechnic, Owerri. They belong to a feminine cult called VIQUEENS (7) Egim Tochukwu (8) Ike Chukwu emeka (9) Nwame Emmanuel - Students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri (10) Okeke Christian (11) Alungu Izioma of Imo State University, Owerri. (12) Tony T. Nwosu (13) Christian Okeke and (14) Adongo Krome (arrested with and English pistol), are members of Black Axe. The above belong to various Cults, running from Black Axe, Vikings, VlQueens, etc. With the apprehension and prosecution of the afore-mentioned cultists from the tertiary institutions, there is now a lull in the invidious and fast-spreading activities of cultism in the State. The higher institutions in Imo State now operate in a near-Cultism free environment.
Others include (1) Isianu Joseph, (2) Njoku Wilson (3) Lucky Msgbamgasa, (4) Onwusonye Chukwunonso, (5) Ogbonna Chika, (6) Eze Thomas all students of Imo State University suspected to be members of Vikings confraternity, were arrested for armed robbery on the 15/09/08 at Ikenegbu Owerri. When searched, detectives recovered two locally made pistols and one live cartridge from them. Effort is on to fish out the remaining members of the gang.
The arrest and subsequent prosecution of these suspects have rekindled hope and safety of life in the minds of the citizens of the state.

Ilozuoke is the Commissioner of Police, Imo State police Command