Anambra State Police Commissioner, Echeng Eworo Echeng, has ordered the immediate deployment of State Intelligence Bureau personnel of the command to gather intelligence to compliment the existing operational personnel/assets already deployed within many areas of the state.
According to a statement signed by the Command Spokesman, DSP Ikenga Toochukwu, the order by the Commissioner of Police follows the information received of planned attacks on the Vigilante members in the state.
While urging the residents to come forth with any useful information, the command also called for calm and assured the public that the police and other security agencies are committed to their safety.
The statement reads:
“Following the information received of planned attacks by some unscrupulous elements on the Vigilante members in the state, the Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng urges resident/indigenes to come forward with information to unmask the identities of these bad elements/persons.
“Also, the CP has ordered immediate deployment of State Intelligence Bureau SIB personnel of the command to gather intelligence to compliment the existing operational personnel/assets already deployed within many areas of the state.
“However, the Command has sue for calm and assures that the Police and other security agents are more committed to providing security services to everyone and all stakeholders in the state.
“You are encouraged to call the Command control room number on 07039194332 or call the Command Police Public Relations Officer on 08039334002 in this regard.
“Confidentiality is guaranteed.” The statement read.
The Police Command reacted following a report by The Network that gunmen, on Friday Night, combed Ebenator Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and moved from house to house to snatch guns from members of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) operating or residing in the community.
Over 30 men stormed the community at about 11 pm and started moving from house to house to dispossess the security men of their guns.
The Network reported that the gunmen, who are now popularly known and addressed as ‘Ụmụọma’ in the entire area, had also recently carried out such invasions and operation in other neighbouring communities.
In one of the affected communities Ezinifite, the dreaded Umuoma wrote the Traditional Ruler of the community to gather all the guns of the vigilante men’s guns to a specific venue, where they went and carry them on a fixed date.
Ukpor, the Headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area, also had the similar experience, according to the source.
The ‘Ụmụọma’ operatives were also alleged to have recently snatched some motorcycles from some youths of Ebenator community, as they have always done to people.
It is their practice to direct the hapless owners visit their camp to ‘bail’ their motorcycles with amount of money, not less than ₦15,000.