Anambra Police Recover Six-Round Pistol, Arrest Two Suspects in Nnewi

By Praise Chinecherem

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two men and recovered a six-round English-made pistol during a stop-and-search operation in Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The recovery was made on Saturday evening by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, in collaboration with personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) 54, according to the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the operatives were conducting a visibility patrol within the Nnewi metropolis when they stopped two men travelling on a Tiger 150 motorcycle without a registration number.

The suspects were identified as Ekwulugo Chiemierie Joseph, 33, and Enyiobi Geoffrey Somtochukwu, 29.

According to Ikenga, a search of the suspects led to the recovery of the firearm.

“They were immediately taken into custody and are currently assisting the Police with the ongoing investigation,” Ikenga said.

He said investigators were working to determine how the suspects came into possession of the pistol, where it was obtained and what it was allegedly intended for.

“The Command is working to establish how the suspects came to be in possession of the firearm, where it was obtained from and what it was intended to be used for,” he said.

“Investigators are also looking into other circumstances surrounding the recovery and whether there are any further links that may assist the investigation.”

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, described the recovery as evidence of the importance of police visibility and coordinated stop-and-search operations.

According to him, the measures form part of the Command’s intelligence-led and community-based policing strategy.

The Commissioner said such operations were important in detecting and disrupting the movement of firearms and other dangerous weapons that could be used in violent crimes.

“We assure residents of Nnewi and Ndi Anambra that the Command will continue to sustain proactive patrols, intelligence-led operations and strategic stop-and-search activities across the State,” Oji Ama said.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the Police with credible information about suspicious persons, movements or activities in their communities.

“The Command appreciates the continued support and cooperation of Ndi Anambra and reiterates its commitment to working with the public to keep the State safe,” he added.

The two suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.

#