The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man, Ebuka Nwakerindu, over alleged motorcycle theft and recovered three stolen motorcycles, a locally made gun and a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be cannabis.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka.
According to the statement, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out the operation following actionable intelligence and a directive from the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi.
The police said the operatives raided a suspected criminal hideout at Onitsha Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government Area on Wednesday, September 23.
It said the suspects fled upon sighting the operatives, but the officers recovered a locally made single-barrel long gun and a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa from the location.
The command said Nwakerindu, a resident of Umuokoromiri Village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, was subsequently arrested on Thursday, September 24.
Police alleged that the suspect specialised in stealing and reselling motorcycles, adding that three motorcycles believed to have been stolen were recovered from him.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects who escaped during the operation, while the recovered items had been taken into police custody as investigations continued.
It added that Nwakerindu would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
The command said the operation formed part of its efforts to implement the Inspector-General of Police’s intelligence-led policing strategy and strengthen crime prevention across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Afolabi, reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations, proactive crime prevention and the protection of lives and property in Abia State.
