Teenager Arrested for Gun Running in Imo, Others for Killing Kidnap Victims

By Amby Uneze in Owerri

The Imo Police Command yesterday paraded a 16 –year- old teenage boy, Onyedikachi Iyaka, from the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state for suspected gun running and possession of weapons and other police kits.

Parading the suspect and others for kidnapping, killing and burying their two  victims in  shallow graves, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, disclosed that 400 rounds of chained GPMG live ammunition, 1,016 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, one AK 47 empty magazine, one K2 empty magazine and one army camouflage bullet proof vest was recovered from the teenager.

Other exhibits recovered from the teenager according to the CP were, one police bullet proof vest, one blue police raincoat, one green beret cap and one empty ammunition.

Ezike who expressed surprise and was visibly shocked by the quantum of exhibits recovered from the suspects, said that recovered weapons could shoot an helicopter.

Giving account on how the suspects was apprehended,  the police boss explained that on September 8, the operatives of the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad arrested him (Onyedikachi) at Egbelu Awaka in the Owerri North LGA following an intelligence information.

He said, “When search was conducted where he lives, the above listed exhibits were recovered. Investigation has commenced, however, the quantum and caliber of exhibits recovered underscores the need for community vigilance, surveillance and strategic information flow “

Ezike equally paraded Kingsley Alaukwu, 25, from the Ohaji /Egbema LGA of the state  for masterminding the kidnapping of 67- year- old Gabriel Alaukwu and 38 year- old -Sunday Iniobong, killing and burying them in a shallow grave after collecting a ransom of N100,000.

The CP disclosed that the suspect was rounded up as a result of investigation carried out by the anti-kidnapping unit of the command.

He said that Alaukwu together with Ugochukwu Ekezie and Emeka Onuegbu who were at large, kidnapped, murdered and buried their two victims in a shallow grave. “They are gang members of one Uju Promise Eke earlier declared wanted by the police, all of whom are Mgbishi in Ohaji /Egbema lga of Imo State.

The decomposed corpses of the victims have been exhumed appropriately and relocated. I take this opportunity to further declare Ugochukwu Ekezie and Emeka Onuegbu wanted. Ezike said.

Meanwhile, the CP gave 28 officers drawn from the anti-kidnapping unit and SARS certificates of commendation and N1m  for their professionalism in quickly arresting the killers of Rev. Father Cyriacus Onunkwo, kidnappers of ace gospel singer, Chinedu Nwadike, Johnbosco Okoro and Njoku Mathias.

When interviewed, the 16 –year- old suspect acknowledged that he was into the business of selling ammunition untill the police caught him.

But he disclosed that the crime business belong to his elder brother whom he identified as Jeff Iyaka, who is now at large.

The teenager said “ I am not the owner of the business, it belongs to my brother, Jeff  Iyaka. I sell each packet of ammunition N7,000.

The murder suspects equally confessed to the crime and ascribed it to the work of the devil.