Anambra Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 65-Year-Old Suspected Secessionist, 6 Others

The Anambra State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities across the state, arresting seven suspects and recovering arms-related items and substances suspected to be illicit drugs during raids on criminal hideouts.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, August 13, followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and was conducted by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit alongside other security personnel.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operatives acted on credible intelligence to raid identified black spots and criminal hideouts in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area, and Umudioka, Dinukofia LGA.

In Umudioka, police arrested 65-year-old Ifeanyi Ogbuagbo. A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of an Army uniform and expended ammunition shells concealed in a black polythene bag.

The police said preliminary findings linked Ogbuagbo to a criminal gang allegedly agitating for self-government. He has been taken into custody while investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the recovered items and his alleged activities.

In a separate operation at a suspected criminal hideout in Ekwulobia, six other suspects were arrested. They were identified as Chisom Okafor, 25; Onyedika Moses, 36; Iruka Nwaonu, 30; Joseph Nwankwo, 36; Chukwujekwu Nwoso, 32; and Akanimo Orok, 40.

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The police said a sizeable quantity of dried weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and other substances suspected to be illicit drugs were recovered during the raid.

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols and coordinated raids aimed at dismantling criminal networks and denying criminals safe havens across the state.

He also directed that raids on criminal hideouts, drug-selling points and other identified areas of criminal activity be intensified.