Nowhere to Hide: Abia Police Smoke out Criminals

Matilda Omonaiye/

The police in Abia State have tracked down some suspected criminals on the run, after their alleged involvement in murder, car theft, and cultism.

According to the state commissioner of police (CP) Mr Adeleye Oyebade, a 200-level Computer Science student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture led detectives to where he dumped the body of his victim, and another suspect was found hiding inside a ceiling after he allegedly shot a woman to death.

The suspected killers were among those paraded by the CP today in Umuahia for various offences.

Policemen investigating the mysterious disappearance of a 67-year-old tricycle operator, Peter Alaebuonu Eseonu, had narrowed the investigation down to the university student, 25-year-old Chinonso David Ibekwe of Ndiotu Ntalakwu, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia.

During police interrogation, the suspect cracked up and told the policemen at Central Police Station, Umuahia what he had done to the man who was found missing on June 27.

Ibekwe’s lead allegedly led to the recovery of the decomposing body of the missing man in a ditch at Amuzukwu, in Umuahia.

“He has, however, confessed to the crime while the decomposing body of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue for preservation and autopsy. The suspect has been charged to Court and remanded in Prison custody,” Oyebade said.

Oyebade also paraded a suspect who was found hiding on the ceiling of his house, after he shot a woman dead in cold blood.

He said, “On July 9, 2017 at about 11am, information was received that someone was shot dead along Obohia Road, in Aba. Sequel to this, a patrol team attached to Ndiegoro Division on routine patrol rushed to the scene at Number 22 Obohia Road, Aba, where the deceased was met in a pool of her own blood. The Divisional Police Officer, Ndiegoro, mobilized other patrol teams to proceed to the scene where one Ogbonnaya Igwe of 22 Obohia Road was arrested in his hide-out on the ceiling of the house.

“One Pump-Action rifle and double barrel gun with 15 live cartridges and four expended cartridges were recovered from the suspect and at the scene respectively. The corpse of the deceased later identified as Ijeoma Chibuzo was deposited in the Mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is in progress.”

Oyebade’s men also recovered a vehicle and arrested suspected cultists.

He said, “On July 6, 2017 at about 9:05am, acting on information received, a team of patrol men attached to Owerrinta Division led by the DPO recovered one Honda Acura Jeep with registration number KWL 896 LU. The documents found therein belong to one Felix Iroegbulam of 114 Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba. The owner has been located.

“On July 7, 2017 at about 4pm, while responding to information received that suspected cultists lodged in one Grand Lotto Hotel, Aba, detectives attached to Ndiegoro Division swooped on the trio of Obike Stanley, Favour Michael and Kingsley Uchenna of Ken-Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori and Rivers State Polytechnic, Ogoni. The following items were recovered from them: one axe, cultist regalia, tramadol tablets and weeds suspected to be Indian-hemp. Suspects confessed to being members of New Black Movement of Africa (NBM). Investigation is in progress.

Other cases mentioned at the parade included the recovery of arms, ammunition, and stolen items.

Oyebade told reporters: “Sequel to a report on July 2, 2017 that his house was broken into while away for Church service same day by unknown persons and his properties carted away, men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) attached to Obehie Division swung into action and arrested the duo of Maduabuchi Lolo and Onyemaechi Emeruwa of Obehie aged 21 and 19 years respectively. Suspects confessed to the crime and gave a lead to the recovery of the stolen items namely: one LG Plasma TV, one Samsung Plasma TV, one Home Theatre music set, clothes and other personal effects. Efforts are geared toward arresting other members of the gang.

“On July 12, 2017 at about 5:30am, the Inspector General of Police’s X-Squad, Force Headquarters, attached to Abia State Command, arrested the duo of Sunday Onyemeonu Okpara, 17, and Uchenna Wisdom, 17, both males of Umudike, who had on July 8, 2017 snatched on gun point, a motorcycle with registration number RLU 871 QC from one Emmanuel Nworgu, a student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. The motorcycle and two live cartridges were recovered from them. More efforts are put in place towards arresting one other at large.

“On July 8, 2017, following information that a Toyota Sienna van with registration number KRK 930 AA, ash in colour was parked at Ugba Junction market square by suspected hoodlums, patrol team attached to Owerrinta Division raced to the scene where one Kingdom Jonah Udo of Eleme in Port-Harcourt Rivers State was accosted.

“The suspect, Kingdom Jonah Udo quickly confessed that he was waiting for two of his gang members who had gone out with a Dee-Damak Motorcycle, with registration number Imo UML 511 QP, red in colour. The other two members, Kingsley Alozie of Isiala Ngwa North LGA and one Charles Tochukwu of Alolo village Okpuala LGA Imo State later came back at about 11pm. They were also arrested.

“During a search on them, the following items were recovered: eight live cartridges, three live 5.56mm ammunition, Toyota Sienna van, Dee-Damak motorcycle, six GSM phones, the sum of N115, 850. Case is still under investigation.

“On July 1, 2017 at about 6:30pm, following information, detectives attached to Ndiegoro Division in Aba arrested the duo of Kalu Ekpe and Onuoha Onuoha of House Number 4 Chinyere Avenue, by Orji Uzor Kalu bridge and House Number 112 Ohanku Road, Aba, respectively. They were suspected to have broken into a shop at Ndoki Street, Aba, and carted away three bales of second hand clothes. The stolen items have been recovered and the suspects have confessed their nexus to the crime. Effort is intensified toward arresting the principal suspect and identifying the owner of the recovered items.

“On July 4, 2017 at about 10pm, acting on a tip off, detectives attached to Area Commander Umuahia Office recovered one locally made double barrel shotgun with its cartridge in a local joint where Indian hemp is smoked at Amaeke Abam, Arochukwu. Also recovered were some wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. The duo of Uche Friday and Ndubueze Louis both, aged 38 and 37 years respectively were, however, arrested for investigation.

“On information, detectives of Anti-kidnapping Unit, attached to Area Command in Aba, on June 30, 2017, at about 6:30pm recovered two locally made shotguns with six live cartridges and two expended cartridges suspected to have been abandoned by unknown hoodlums at Evangel Seminary School premises in Ovom, Ogbor-Hill, Aba. The exhibits have been taken into custody while area is placed under surveillance to track down those behind the scene.”

Oyebade noted that the police in their determination to rid Abia of crimes have embarked on numerous proactive measures to ensure that crimes are nipped in the bud and perpetrators of heinous and violent crimes put on check.

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