Police arrest kidnap gang leader in Abia

Posted by admin Abia, Nigerian Police, State News Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Abia State police command has arrested one Chukwuma Ajapere, alias Barewa, the second-in-command to the late kidnap kingpin in the state, Obioma Nwankwo, alias Osisikankwu.

Speaking with journalists in Umuahia, the acting state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kingsley Omire, said the suspect was nabbed in a hideout at the outskirts of Aba, adding that he was now helping the police in their investigations to nab other members of the kidnap gang in the state.

The police boss also said the command was prepared to ensure a crime-free Yuletide for residents, adding that adequate security measures had been put in place by the command to nip any criminal occurrence in the bud during the festivities.

The command also said it tried to stop the rally of one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ikechi Emenike, which was later held in the state capital last week, for security reasons.

The police boss said the campaign organisation applied for permit to hold the rally and was approved by the police, “but we found out that the campaign group failed to find out that the state government had already booked the same venue for another event.

“We decided to cancel the already approved permit for the rally because the venue planned for the rally had been cancelled and there was no new venue, but we later gave them permit when a new venue was found. So, there is no truth that the police planned to stop the rally.”

Omeire appealed to politicians in the state to play their game as approved by the law and rules governing campaigns and elections, adding that all aspirants must obtain police approval before any rally in the state.

He also warned politicians to desist from trying to induce members of the police force in the state, adding that they were ready to ensure free and fair elections in the state in 2011.wp_posts