By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Nine persons, including two women, have been arrested by a Police-led Joint Security Team in Anambra State after they were intercepted with three AK-47 rifles, a pump-action gun, charms and other items at Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the suspect, during preliminary interrogation, allegedly claimed to be security operatives from a neighbouring state but could not provide satisfactory explanations about their identities, affiliations, possession of the firearms or the purpose of their movement into Anambra.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu Anthony, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, said the suspects were arrested in the early hours of the day during a stop-and-search operation mounted at a checkpoint in Isuofia.
Isuofia is the hometown of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
According to the Police spokesman, the operation was carried out by the Joint Operation Base in Aguata, led by Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Austin Elaigwu, in collaboration with personnel of other security agencies and the state-owned Agunechemba Security Outfit.
SP Ikenga said the security team intercepted two vehicles (comprising a custom-coloured Sienna and an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4) during the operation, leading to the arrest of the nine suspects, comprising seven males and two females.
A thorough search of the vehicles, the Police spokesman said, led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action gun, charms and other items considered relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The suspects and the recovered items were immediately taken into custody for questioning and further investigation, according to the statement.
While the identities and exact affiliations of the suspects are yet to be established, the Police said preliminary interrogation showed that their claim of being security operatives from a neighbouring state could not immediately be substantiated, as they allegedly failed to give satisfactory explanations about their identities and the firearms found in their possession.
In his reaction, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, according to SP Ikenga, commended the operatives for what he described as a job well done and urged them to sustain their vigilance.
The CP noted that the recovery underscored the importance of intelligence-led policing and effective stop-and-search operations in detecting and preventing potential criminal activities.
The Police Command said investigation into the matter was ongoing, as efforts continue to establish the identities, affiliations and circumstances surrounding the movement and possession of the firearms by the suspects.
