Police Orders Vigilante, Hunters, Others To Surrender Arms Or Risk Jail 

By Nedum Noble

Anambra State Police Command on Thursdaydirected Vigilante, hunters, watch night men and other groups in possession of prohibited firearms in the state to surrender such weapons or risk prosecution.

The command vowed to arrest and prosecute any individual or groups of persons found with any kind of prohibited firearms in the state.

The threat is coming on the heels of the 21-day ultimatum issued by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, directing all illegal acquired firearms and ammunitions to be mopped up across the country.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, the State Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, said the command has set up a 9-man task force chaired by ACP Baba Maiyaki to comply with the directives.

He said the mop up operation was targeted at full enforcement of the Firearms Act of 2004.

He listed the firearms affected by the exercise to include artillery, apparatus for the discharge of any explosives of gas diffusion projectiles, rocket weapons, bomb and grenades.

Other weapons enumerated by the commissioner were machine guns and pistols, military rifles, revolvers and pistols, pump action gun of all categories as well as any other firearms weapons fabricated to kill.

While canvassing for the support of the citizens of the state in the enforcement of the directives, Umar urged those affected to comply with the directives before the expiration of the date of the ultimatum.

Meanwhile, two persons have been arrested by the police in Anambra for allegedly abducting a 3-year old child, identified as Chikamso Chukwudube Emmanuel from Aguleri in Anambra East local council of Anambra State.

The suspects, one Abuchi David Onochie ‘m’ and Obinna Ekwugo ‘m’ both from Anambra State were said to have been arrested around 7.45pm along Osisioma road junction, Aba Abia State.

The Anambra state commissioner of police, Garba Umar, said the suspects were nabbed following their inability to provide reasonable account of their victim.

He said the suspects were taken to Osisioma Police Station where the suspects confessed that actually they lured the little boy out from the family house Aguleri Anambra East L.G.A of Anambra State.

According to the commissioner, The parents of Chikamso Chukwudube Emmanuel ‘m’ have reported and claimed their child. Case under investigation and effort is intensified to arrest other gang members.