Imo Police honour 28 gallant officers

…As they Receive CP’s Commendation Certificate, N2m

… Command nabs three kidnappers, one terrorist 

The Imo State Police Command has honoured 28 police officers who have shown outstanding gallantry in their job of securing lives and properties of citizens. These officers were presented with the Commissioner of Police Commendation Certificates

and were also given cash reward of N2million for the roles they played the arrest of some daredevil criminals that kidnapped some persons recently- One million naira from the Police Command and one million naira from the Imo State government.

Speaking during the presentation of the certificates to the officers, the CP, Okey Ezike  said: “In all, 28 Officers shall be honoured in this ceremony – 18 for their efforts in the arrest of suspects who kidnapped and murdered Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onunkwo; 5 for their efforts in resolving the kidnapping/ armed robbery that involved the Gospel Singer Prince Chinedu Nwadike as a victim and another 5 for their hard work in the case of Johnbosco Okoro and one other as victims.”

According to the CP, the command recently arrested three suspected kidnappers and one terrorist who are currently undergoing interrogation and investigation. The suspects include 32-year-old Uche Paul Ikewelugo  from Awka Anambra State for allegedly kidnapping one Mrs Evangeline Chidi Opara on 3rd June, 2017 and her white Lexus 330 Jeep taken away to unknown destination. She was later released after paying a ransom of N250, 000. 00.

One Kabiru Garba, 26 years from Gumel in Jigawa State. He allegedly kidnapped Tochukwu Okeke and Ekemezie Okeke from Mbaitoli LGA, and took the victims’ handsets and necklace. He was arrested at Ama Hausa in Owerri.

A 25 year old Kingsley Alaukwu from Umuoso Mgbuisi, Ohaji/Egbema was also arrested for allegedly kidnapping Gabriel Alaukwu and Iniobong Sunday. The victims were kidnapped at Nkaraha in Ohaji and later murdered and buried in a shallow grave after collecting N100, 000 ransom.

The command also nabbed a suspected enfant terrible in crime and teenager, the 16 year old Onyedikachi Iyaka from Umuchokwu Ukwu Village, Ehime Mbano LGA. The following exhibits were recovered from him; 400 rounds of chained GPMG live ammunition, 1, 016 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition,  One AK 47 empty magazine,  One K2 empty magazine,  One Army camouflage bullet proof vest, One Police bullet proof vest,  One blue Police raincoat,  One green berret cap and One empty ammunition box.

CP Ezike however decried the high rate of illegal firearms being recovered from suspected hoodlums and called for communities to be vigilant and to mount surveillance to enable strategic flow of information.

The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Imo (SGI), Sir George Eche, said that it is bad to see a large quantity of illegal firearms in the hands of young people who are not members of para military organizations, adding that crime rate has increased due to the inordinate ambition of the youths.

He commended the Police Command for doing the government and people proud as they strive to remain awake while the rest of the citizenry sleeps. Eche said that Imo government has been appreciative of the services of CP Ezike since he came to the state.