Amby Uneze in Owerri
The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday paraded over 60 suspects who were involved in various criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and fraudulent activities.
Briefing journalists at the state police command, Owerri, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Frederick Lakanu, said the effort was in line with the determination of his command to consolidate on the continued raiding of all criminal hideouts in the state.
Among those arrested were the kidnappers of the Channel Television Correspondent in Imo, as well as the kidnappers of another journalist that works with Excel Magazine along Emekuku-Umuahia Road.
They included Chimezie Clement (31), Lucky Duru (24), Nwaneri Uzochukwu (28), Nnamdi Ndukwu (35), Favour Chukwuemeka (28), Chinenye Elekwuya (31), John Ikorobu, and Njemanze Obuneke (29).
The police also paraded three suspects caught for vandalising MTN mast at Oleme Amaifeke, in Orlu Local Government.
A pick-up van and 22 battery chargers belonging to MTN were also recovered from them.
The suspects are Odey Augustine (22) and Nweke Stephen (25).
Lakanu, who decried the activities of some pastors, paraded one Pastor Delight Arinze Okorie of Watered Ground Ministry, Atta in Njaba Local Government Area of the state.
The pastor was said to have attempted to murder one of his worshippers in the guise of praying for her.
Other suspects were two brothers and their friend, who kidnapped and subsequently killed their friend, one Ugonna Martins Ukaegbu, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri.
They are Udodi Eke (23), Chukwudi Eke (24) and Chidiebere Umezurike (20).
Also, an attempt to kidnap Bishop Ezeugo Ekewuba, General Overseer of Overcomeers Christian Mission Inc along Avu road was aborted as the police succeeded in recovering one AK 47 riffle with three magazines loaded 58 rounds of ammunition.
The CP warned hospitals and other health facilities to watch out for those who ran away with bullet wounds to report such cases to the police. He also assured the people of the state of the preparedness of the police command to wrestle with the criminals no matter where they hide.
