The Ebonyi State Police Command has paraded suspects involved in organ harvesting and ritual killings among other crimes.
While parading suspects at the state police headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, highlighted the successes recorded by the Command.
He noted that the Command under the leadership of CP Anthonia Uche-Anya, has employed strategic steps through increased engagement with stakeholders help bring crime to the barest minimum, noting that the operatives of the command are not relenting in their efforts to ensure the safety and security of residents in the state.
He stated that during the month under review, the command has arrested 177 suspects for various offences, noting that the arrest of the syndicate involved in organ harvesting and ritual killings is a major breakthrough.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police by reporting any suspicious activities, as the police is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the people, particularly during this festive season
See the full statement below:
PRESS BRIEFING
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press; on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi Command CP Anthonia A. Uche-Anya, fdc, I want to warmly welcome you to this press briefing.
I am here to update you on our Command’s achievements within October 2024 and our relentless efforts to combat crime and ensure a safe and prosperous environment for socio-economic growth in Ebonyi State.
The command has employed strategic steps through increased stakeholder engagement to help bring crime to the barest minimum. Through this approach, we have been able to reduce the incidence of violent crimes, while operatives of the command are not relenting in our effort to make the state safe for all.
During the month under review, the command arrested 162 males and 15 females, totalling 177 suspects for various offences. Ninety-two suspects have already been charged in court, while others will be arraigned once investigations are complete.
Below is the summary of the major achievements;
ORGAN HARVESTING/RITUAL KILLINGS: On 11/10/2024, Mrs. Blessing Chikezie Onyekachi reported to the command of her missing husband, Mr. Chikezie Idenyi, who left home on 14/09/2024, told her he was going to Lagos on a business trip, but she did not hear him again. Command operatives from the Anti-kidnapping unit, through a painstaking investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Innocent Elebe and Eze Elechi; they made useful statements, which led the police to arrest Obinna Nwanguru and Oda Peter. They confessed to killing Chikezie Idenyi, Chibu Odii and Eze Fabian on different dates while trying to extract their blood/ organs to use it to cure a cognitively impaired person (Down syndrome). Operatives of the command have recovered the corpses of Chikezie Idenyi and Chibu Odii while effort is ongoing to recover the remains of the third victim.
KIDNAPPING: On 17/10/2024, Miss Nwigbo was kidnapped and held hostage in a Forest behind Okwagba Primary School by Ominiyi Friday, Ubochi Ifeanyi and others at large. The kidnappers raped and held the victim for four days while they collected a ransom of ₦400,000 before they freed the victim. On 22/10/2024 operatives of the command who had been on the trail of the kidnappers arrested the 2 suspects while effort is ongoing to arrest others at large. They will be arraigned in court to answer for their crimes.
MURDER: Operatives of the command arrested one Chukwuebuka Okemiri, who conspired with others at large to kill HRH Ezeogo Ibo Ubani, the traditional ruler of Ihie Autonomous community in Akaeze Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, on 03/05/2024. Efforts are still ongoing to arrest others at large.
RECOVERY OF GUN: On 30/10/2024, operatives of the command attached to the Crack unit acting on credible intelligence nabbed one Utobo Onyekachi, AKA “Azaman”, who is a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate terrorising citizens with Abakaliki. The suspect led the police officers to the syndicate’s hideout in Igbeagu Izzi, where his gang members, upon sighting the police officers, took to their heels and abandoned one Barretta pistol, which was recovered and, upon investigation, was found to have been snatched from a police officer.
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS: Hinging on the reinvigorated community policing initiative of the command under the leadership of CP Anthonia A Uche-Anya, fdc, the command successfully addressed a critical situation in Umuezeali Oriuzor Community, Ezza North LGA. A notorious individual, Friday James Nworie, had been terrorizing the community, but following a tip, the command apprehended him. During interrogation, Nworie confessed to possessing a locally-made single-barrel pistol, which was recovered along with five live cartridges.
Thank you!!
DSP JOSHUA UKANDU
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
EBONYI STATE POLICE COMMAND.
ABAKALIKI.
