The Commander of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, SACS, of the Anambra state police command, Mr Bako Gado yesterday revealed that no fewer than 150 suspects that included, kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers have been convicted while 10 were freed by various courts in the state within two months of his assumption of office just as he warned Otoko Isuaniocha community, Awka North local Government Area, to make peace in their area.
According to Mr Bako Gado the suspects were mostly arrested in Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi, Ihiala and Awka before their arraignment in court.
Making this disclosure to newsmen in his office at Enugwu Ukwu, he express satisfaction that with the co-operation of the people in the state criminal activities would be curtailed within the shortest possible time adding that Governor Willie Obiano had through the commissioner of police, Mr. Karma Horsea, the police have been receiving enormous assistance to help flush out criminals from the state.
He also reacted to the leadership crisis rocking otoko Isuanocha community in which one Chief Anthony Onyeagolu accused the police of being bias in investigating the leadership crisis there which has torn it apart.
Reacting to the allegation in which Onyeagolu accused the police in
the state of extorting money from detained Otoko people , the
Commander regretted that some enemies of progress in the community that are self-centred should continue to hold the community hostage by formenting trouble aimed at enriching themselves as they thrive in crises at the detriment of
innocent people warning that the police would not allow that to continue unabated.
He urged them to turn a new leaf and avoid criminal activities so as not to be made to face the wrath of the law.
He recalled that, “when we were doing their case one of them who is based in Ghana came down and carried the case file to Abuja”
“the problem in the area is leadership and not land issue and we did not extort money from any body as they alleged”
In his reaction the the caretaker committee chairman for Peace
appointed by the daughters and inlaws, (Umuada/ Nwadiani) Donatus Okeke accused the Onyeagolu family of causing the problem in the area adding that, they think chairmanship of Otoko is their birth right “.
He said “#1.5million worth of economic trees that included iroko and mahogany were cut, hewed and sold off by them and they want to head us for life”;
“their financier is their brother who lives in Ghana and he wants the former chairman, Paulinus Onyeagolu who resigned after three years instead of four years to come back and we said no since he personally tendered his resignation letter and that is part of the crises now.”