FULL TEXT SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE STATE, CP MUHAMMAD MUSA KATSINA. AT POLICE
HEADQUARTERS, OWERRI ON 28/02/2013
You are welcome ladies and gentlemen and members of the press, I asked you to come so I can formally introduce myself and also brief you on our major breakthroughs since I assumed office as the Commissioner of Police Imo State on 18 February, 2013.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMMAND WITHIN THE PAST WEEK
Case No. 1: SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS: On 27/02/2013, on information, men from Anti- robbery Squad arrested a suspected kidnapper, one Uche Mathew Alaribe, alias, Nze M, who was alleged to be an armed robbery/Kidnap Kingpin in lmo State and its environs. He was responsible for several robberies and kidnappings in Imo State. He equally killed several of his victims. He was arrested at Mechanic village Nekede while planning for another operation with one Emeka Opara and three others suspected to be members of his gang. On sighting police, he took to his heels and was shot in the leg and Emeka Opara was arrested while others escaped. During interrogation, he confessed to so many kidnap operations. The gang was responsible for the kidnap of one Uchenna Emmanuel Alaribe whom they killed, Achumba Samuel, Cowbell Manager’s wife, a pastor of Deeper Life, and so many he said he could not remember their names. A car they used in collecting ransom from their victims was equally recovered. Unfortunately, Uche Mathew Alaribe, was rushed to hospital after his arrest but later confirmed dead.
Case No.2: Stealing/obtaining goods under false pretence:
COMPLAINANT: Adebayo Olajire ‘m’ Of Olam Nig. Ltd, 47 Linca Road, Onitsha.
SUSPECTS:
(1) Michael Chukwukelu ‘m’.
(2) Patience Dike ‘f’.
(3)Vincent Onyeka, Awada Onitsha.
(4) Benjamin Nwanyiaku, 16 Palma Street Fegge Onitsha.
(5) Uche Udeji of No.87 Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha.
(6.) Onyebuchi Okechi ‘m’.
EXHIBITS: 768 Bags of Mama Gold Rice.
on 18/02/2013, one Dennis Ike ‘m’, fraudulently obtained from the complainant’s company 1,200 bags of Mama Gold Rice valued N13.2m with fake Bank drafts. The fake bank drafts are of seven million naira paid through Union Bank Plc at 77 Douglas Road, Owerri and Six million two hundred thousand naira of Zenith Bank plc at 108 Wetheral road, Owerri.
Two trailers load of 1,200 bags of rice were released to Dennis le ‘m’ through Michael Chukwuelu from Onitsha which was conveyed to Owerri. On information, Police swung into action and arrested 6 suspects who have made useful statements to the Police while 768 bags of the rice have been recovered. Investigation is still ongoing.
Case No. 3: Armed Robbery/Car Snatching.
Complainant: Iwu Chigaemezu ‘m’ (26 years) of No. 3, Paul’s Avenue
Orji.
SUSPECT: (1) Osita Anozie ‘m’ 42 years.
EXHIBITS:
(a) Infinity Jeep FX35 with Registration number AK D964 AY
(b) One locally made pistol.
On the 21/02/2013 at about 21:35hrs. a gang of armed men numbering about five, led by one Chikwado alias ‘alcohol’ snatched an Infinity Jeep FX35 with registration number AKD 964 AY belonging to one Iwu Chigaemezu at Akabo where he went to visit one of his friends, lfeanyi Okwu. Also taken from him and his friends are seven handsets, the sum of N180, 000.00 and a woman’s handbag. The driver of the gang, one Osita Anozie, drove the snatched Jeep towards Owerri. One Ifeanyl Okwu called police distress number and Police was immediately dispatched to the scene and on sighting the snatched vehicle gave them a hot chase. On getting to a bridge near Real Capitol Hotels towards Owerri, the suspect jumped down and took to his heels. He was chased and arrested. The snatched Jeep and one locally made pistol were recovered from him. The suspect confessed to being an armed robber/car snatcher who was introduced into armed robbery by one Chikwado, alias ‘alcohol’ just this year 2013. Investigation is ongoing.
CASE NO 4: Arrest of Suspected Kidnappers of a 75 Year old
On 20/02/2012, one Mr. Dominic Ibemesi of Nneni in Aniocha LGA Anambra State was abducted by gunmen on gun point on his way from his farm at Umuchia Umuapu in Ohaji LGA in Imo State and taken to an unknown destination. They demanded for l5million Naira for his freedom. Police had been on their trail, and on 23/2/2013, two suspects were trailed to Port-Harcourt where they wanted to withdraw money paid in by I.P.O. The suspects are: Ogechi Onwuka from Obowo in Imo State but resident at Wimpey by mile 4 P.H, Rivers State.2. Ihohi Charles Ila in Delta State.
Case No.5: Unlawful Possession of Weeds suspected to be Indian hemp:
SUSPECT: Uchenna Madu alias “Shoe”, male 33 years.
EXHIBIT: One Big Bag of Weeds Suspected to Be Indian hemp.
Through raids of criminal hide-outs carried out by Anti-Robbery team, Area Command, Owerri at the Relief Market, Owerri led by ASP James Egenamba, one Indian hemp dealer called Uchenna Madu, alias ‘shoe’ was arrested with one big bag of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. He confessed to the crime and said he got his supply of Indian hemp from J5 bus drivers from Kano State.
Case No 6: Unlawful, possession of Indian hemp:
SUSPECTS:
(1) Chimuanya Ekpezie ‘m’ – 18 years.
(2) Eberechi Egbula ‘m’ -26 years
(3) Maduabuchi Nwokoji ‘m’ —27 years.
EXHIBIT: One big bag of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
On the 22/02/2013 at about 12:30hrs, Supol Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri arrested three male suspects in possession of one big bag of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp during a raid. The suspects will soon appear in court.
Case No.7:Rescued from Ritualist
On the 25/02/2013 at about 15:55hrs, one Odinakachukwu Mbata , 16 years of age was rescued at a shrine from the hands of ritualists. She closed from a lesson she attended at Douglas road Owerri lmo State and boarded a bus to Orji. On getting to IMSU junction, the bus with four other men on board changed route to Amakaohia through Works road on the pretext that there was a hold up. On getting to Amakaohia, they ordered her to lie down and close her eyes. She later found herself in a bush. On information police swung into action and on sighting police patrol Vehicle abandoned her in the bush near a shrine where she was rescued.
CASE No.8: Suspected armed robbers/cultists:
On 28 January, 2013,on information, that robbers are at Pinewood hotels Orlu road Amakaohia men of special anti robbery squad from area command Owerri swung into action and arrested two suspects and recovered and English pistol loaded with four rounds and eleven rounds of ammunition.
SUSPECTS:Ikenna Amaechi and Johnson Ndubuisi. They confessed to the crime and will soon appear in court.
