Police discover another arms cache in Anambra, Arrest Kingpin

The Anambra State Police command yesterday discovered another private armoury this time at Umuihefula, Umuaku village in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area. This is barely two weeks after a combined team of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives in state and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP’s) Special Task Force on heinous crimes recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnappers and armed robbers.

Yesterday’s operation which was carried out by the same SARS under the leadership James Nwafor (SP), saw the policemen arresting one of the kingpins, Emeka Ezekude in whose custody was the arms and ammunition. However, another suspect whose name was given as Sunday Nwachukwu from Ezumeri Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area was said to be on the run.

A combined team of SARS on a tip-off was said to have cordoned off the home of the suspect, Emeka Ezekude, where two AK47 rifles, one type 06 rifle, one rocket grenade, 27 AK47 magazines, three rocket propellers, 770 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition and nine chains used to lock up kidnap victims were recovered. Greenwich News gathered that Ezekude’s arrest was made possible due to information supplied by his relations.

The rifles allegedly owned by Sunday Nwachukwu were kept in the custody of Emeka, who allegedly escaped when the police arrived but was later arrested as he went to one of the new generation banks to withdraw money possibly to enable him to escape. The arms and ammunition, according to the police, were like the Oraifite incident, recovered from two giant plastic drums buried in the hideout of the suspect at Uli.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ralphael Uzoigwe, confirmed the arrest. He said effort was being made to track down Sunday from Ezumeri-Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area. Also commenting, a senior Police officer who spoke in confidence told newsmen that God has indeed come to the rescue of the command and taken control of affairs.

He said, “You know, it is the duty of the Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa or the PPRO to say these things, even the SARS commander who led operations is not allowed to talk by the CP on such issues. But the truth is that the command made another inroad today (yesterday) by discovering another arms cache in this state at Uli.

My brother, God is beginning to intervene in this state and I pray it continues.” He, however, refused to give details of the latest recovery, urging the newsmen to wait for the appropriate authorities to do so.

On September 3, 2012 when Ifedike (Ofeakwu) was arrested at his home in Ifite Oraifite, the Police recovered from his underground armoury 27 AK47 riffles, one K2 rifle, two type-06 rifles, one GPMG, one rocket launcher, 17 rockets, six pump action guns, three Dane guns, one Berretta pistol and 13 rocket grenades.

They also recovered from Ifedike who allegedly confessed having introduced kidnapping in the South-East 12,800 rounds of Ak47 live ammunition, 530 rounds of LAR ammunition, 95 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, 1, 000 rounds of K2 live ammunition and 143 magazines, totaling 14, 425 rounds of live ammunition, just as they recovered nine chains they used to lock victims.