The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man, Ebuka Nwakerindu, over alleged motorcycle theft and drug dealing.
The command also recovered a locally fabricated single-barrel gun, a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be cannabis and three motorcycles during the operation.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police.
Chinaka said Nwakerindu, a resident of Umuokoromiri Village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, was apprehended following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
According to her, the operation was conducted on September 23 at a suspected criminal hideout in Onitsha Ngwa, Obingwa Local Government Area.
She said the police initially recovered the gun and suspected cannabis after the suspect and other occupants of the hideout fled when they sighted the operatives.
The PPRO stated, “Upon sighting the police, the suspect and his accomplices fled the scene. However, one locally made single-barrel long gun and a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis sativa were recovered.”
Chinaka added that Nwakerindu was subsequently arrested on September 24, following further police efforts.
She said, “The suspect specialises in the theft and resale of motorcycles. Three stolen motorcycles were recovered from him.”
The police said investigations were ongoing, while efforts were being made to apprehend other suspects who escaped from the scene.
The command added that the recovered exhibits remained in police custody and that the suspect would be prosecuted after investigations were concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and proactive crime prevention.
He also assured residents that the command would continue to work towards protecting lives and property across the state.
