The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a vigilante operative while fleeing with a gun.
In a statement on Tuesday, the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said one pump action gun wrapped in a bag of rice was recovered from the suspect at Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Ikenga added that police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Divisional headquarters led by CSP Emeka Obi, acting on credible information, arrested the suspect on Friday.
He said, “Police operatives attached to 3 Police Divisional headquarters led by CSP Emeka Obi acting on credible information on 22/11/2024 by 6:38pm arrested one Enediong Bassey ‘M’ 25yrs, a native of Ikono LGA of Akwa Ibom State, and recovered one Pump action gun wrapped in a bag of rice at Nkwelle-Ezunaka.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a security outfit/vigilante and was about to escape with the gun to join his criminal gang for armed robbery and other unpatriotic activities.
“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of community policing, reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the Police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the state.”
He stated that the CP also directed the suspect’s immediate transfer to the command’s anti-robbery squad for comprehensive investigations.