How we’re battling crime in Anambra, by police boss

How we’re battling crime in Anambra, by police boss

In Anambra State, there appears to be a renewed vigour in the fight against crime and criminality presently. Though the governor, Chief Willie Obiano made it clear immediately after he was sworn into office on March 17 that the state would no longer be habitable for criminals, the arrival of a new Commissioner of Police in the state, Hosea Karma, appears to have helped in the actualisation of Obiano’s dream.
Since he was redeployed to Anambra from Force Headquarters, Abuja where he was in charge of the Police Mobile Force, Karma has been tackling crime and criminality by taking the onslaught to the doorsteps of the perpetrators. And now, many are those expressing optimism that the coming yuletide celebration would have many indigenes returning home, devoid of the usual dread of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals.
Recently, many suspected criminals were paraded at the Police Command Headquarters in Amawbia, Awka, with many exhibits recovered from the suspects. There were assorted arms and ammunition, fake vehicle number plates, computer sets, gas cylinders and welding machines. There were also several brand new vehicles recovered from a syndicate, including one loaded with several sizes of split unit air conditioners.
Among the suspects were an albino dressed in a flowing royal garb with red cap, some women and a native doctor.
The police boss, Karma explained that his men nabbed members of an armed robbery gang that operated in churches in the three senatorial zones of the state, adding that some others who majored in robbing banks were also arrested.
He said the gang attempted to rob Fidelity Bank in Awka, informing that police operatives gunned down the suspected gang leader.
“In the shootout that occurred, we lost a mobile policeman who was on duty in that bank at that point in time. We recovered three AK 47 rifles, three pump action guns, with assorted ammunitions. Some cartridges were recovered. A welding machine which they wanted to use to break into the vault of the bank was equally recovered,” Karma stated.
He said his command had broken a syndicate that specialized in car snatching, adding that five members of the group had been arrested while 30 cars, including seven brand new ones, had been recovered. He said a lady that was using her father’s house as a warehouse for kidnap victims was also arrested. He advised parents to ensure that their children and wards were not involved in criminality.
He disclosed that a native doctor from Nando community who gave equipped criminals with charms and concoctions for protection was also arrested.
Karma said the native doctor deceived the criminals that nobody would arrest them, and that if they were arrested and they confessed to their crimes, they would die.
The police boss said his men made another breakthrough at Nnewi on September 25, when an uncompleted building that was used as a hideout for criminals was raided. He informed that one AK47 rifle, 1541 rounds of ammunition, 367 rounds of 5.56mm rounds ammunition, 30 AK 47 magazines, six locally made pistols, four padlocks and two chains, were recovered.
He revealed that the command also apprehended a four-member syndicate that specialized in issuing fake number plates and insurance papers. He said though they prepared the fake documents in Delta State, the syndicate was broken at Nnewi while the fake number plates were recovered.
Karma said at Otuocha division, his men on patrol accosted a bus loaded with 28 split units of air conditioners that were vandalized from a hotel. He said the younger brother of the owner of the hotel, as well as the receiver of the stolen air conditioners, were arrested.
While appealing to Anambra residents to be vigilant, the police boss assured that his men and the state government would carry the fight to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
He enjoined all residents to continue to give the police information even as he assured that all information would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
He also lauded the support of Governor Obiano, saying he had been providing working aids to the command. He said the doors of the command would remain open to the stakeholders while the people would be carried along.
“My template for policing Anambra is people-oriented and community based. It is my earnest desire to extensively collaborate with the community, partner with the institutions and work with religious and corporate bodies to ensure that the state is made safer and more secured for investment and habitation.
“I am not only going to consolidate on the successes already recorded by my predecessors but also improve upon them to ensure that the war against crime is won for good. No doubt the job is tasking and tough, but with greater vigour and strength, we have begun the mission of taking the war to the doorsteps of the criminals and by God’s grace, we shall surely overcome,” he said.