Fides Media Living the Faith
….Speaks on Ukpor, Nise Shootings
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Anambra State Police Command last Wednesday said it is deeply saddened by the recent shooting incidents in the state involving one Efechigha Okechukwu who was shot on the leg at Ukpor on 30th July, 2018 and one Nonso Onyema who was shot dead on the 7th August, 2018 at Nise by Police personnel.
Briefing newsmen at Police Command Headquarters, Awka, the commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Baba Umar Psc, said he had ordered for a full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shootings, noting that the police personnel involved had been arrested, defaulted and presently undergoing orderly room trial; and investigation.
Umar said the outcome shall be made public in due course. ‘I want to assure the members of public that justice would be done in all the cases. The command commiserates with the families of the victims and assures them that there would be no cover up,’ CP Umar said.
Speaking on child stealing, the police recalled that on the 17th July, 2018, one Jude Ebiowu of Okoti reported at Ogbauru Division that his daughter named Nmachukwu Ebiowu female aged three years of the same address disappeared during a graduation ceremony at “The Light International School Okoti” and all efforts to find her proved abortive.
He however, said that through discreet investigation by Police detectives yielded positive results leading to the arrest of three members of the syndicate behind series of child stealing in the state including that of Nmachukwu Ebiowu.
He gave their names as follows;
Nonyelum Okakwu male aged 50yrs of Okoti, Chumezie Nwaeforu male aged 13yrs of Okoti (Son to the 1st suspect) and Obiajulu Okwosa male aged 16yrs of Oba Town
The police commissioner announced that one Mrs. Nkemdilim Okwosa adult female of Oba who was the 4th member of the syndicate was on the run.
According to him, investigation further revealed that the syndicate had turned child stealing into a family business, which, he said involved virtually all members of the same family.
‘Investigation also revealed that on 22nd July, 2018, the second suspect one Chimezue Nwaefuru aged 13yrs abducted one Chrismidi Udetore aged 3yrs and took the victim to his father one Nonyelum Okakwu, who usually send him to steal children with his bicycle which he purposely bought for him to lure children with using same bicycle.
‘The same suspect equally confessed to have abducted the victim Nmachukwu Ebiowu aged 3yrs from the Light International school, Okoti and handed her to his father Nonyelum Okakwu who equally took the child to the fourth suspect one Mrs Nkemdilim Okwosa of Oba Town, who is now on the run with the said child.
‘Furthermore, detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department searched the house of the suspect at large and recovered four other children whose ages ranges from 3, 4 and 6. The children have been taken to motherless babies’ home for safe custody. Manhunt for the 4th suspect is ongoing.
‘I want to use this medium to urge parents whose children were either stolen or missing to report at the State CIID Awka for identification of those children already found.
8. Finally, I want to assure all Ndi Anambra that the command will continue to serve and protect all citizens with integrity and in accordance with internationally acceptable best practices,’ CP concluded.