By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has neutralized a notorious leader of a cult group, Mr Okechukwu Freedom and arrested two others in its war against criminality and criminal elements in the state.
The command also recovered one locally made pistol, one expanded cartridge, and one ladies’ motorcycle during a heavy shootout between the cult group and the police operatives in the state.
The Police Command Spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu in a statement on Friday said the top cult leader, who had been linked to many cult-related attacks in different parts of the state, was gunned down at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, during a heavy shootout between his cult group and the police operatives in the state.
He further revealed that some members of the gang were captured alive, with bullet wounds mwhile many arms and live ammunition were also recovered at the scene.
The statement reads: “In the relentless efforts of the Command to take the battle to the door-step of the criminal elements who are bent on fomenting trouble and acts meant to cause tension in the state, operatives burst three notorious cultists, recover two locally made pistols, one ladies machine, one expanded cartridge, charms, face mask and substance suspected to be hard drugs.
“On 11/1/2023 by 5 am, Police operatives acting on credible intelligence burst into a criminal hideout in Nkpor Idemili North L.G.A. The suspects, Caleb Nwankwo ‘m’ aged 22year, Katchi Nwolisa ‘m’ aged 23years, and Okechukwu Freedom ‘m’ (aged unknown), on sighting the police, and in an attempt to escape the scene, started shooting indiscriminately. The police engaged the armed hoodlums in a gun duel, demobilized Okechukwu, and arrested the two others with gunshot wounds.
“They all confessed to be members of Viking Confrantenity and identified the late Okechukwu as their leader. The suspect also had been involved in the cult-related killings in Nkpor, Obosi, and was actively involved in the cult attack that led to the murder of Chimeile Udemba on 1/12/2022 and Ikenna Nwagbulu on 14/12/2022 all in Obosi.
“In another development, the Operatives, responding to distress calls on 11/1/2023 by 10:30 am along Little Hood Estate, Obosi, recovered one locally made pistol, one expanded cartridge, and one ladies’ motorcycle. The suspects, on sighting the police operatives, abandoned the recovered exhibits and took to their heels. Efforts are in top gear to arrest the assailants.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, has ordered Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Commanders of Tactical/Operational Units/Formations to embark on aggressive crime-prevention and visibility patrols in their areas of responsibility…”
