At least 10 suspected armed robbers and One illegal oil refinery operator were in Onisha, Anambra State, arrested and handed over to the police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, by the Navy in Onitsha, even as it foiled a bloody clash that would have erupted between herdsmen and Odekpe community yesterday.
Onitsha Naval Commander, Navy Captain MY Dahiru, said: “if not for our quick intervention when we had a distress call from the President General of Iyiowa Odekpe Community,Chief Agozie Okoye, that herdsmen have invaded their community with their cows destroying their crops, farmland and economic trees it would have been bloody.”
“On arrival at the scene the herdsmen abandoned their cows and fled and we pursued them. Why must day be that wicked to damage the farms. I need to see their leaders because I don’t want them here since they don’t know how to control their cows” he stated.
He said: We will not tolerate any form of criminality here.
Within three weeks of my arrival as the new Onisha Naval post commander, I have been able to arrest about 10 suspected armed robbers that included motorbike armed robbers, and one oil refinery operator and we have handed them over to the police and NSCDC.
“Kidnappers, illegal dredgers, oil thieves and others who use the
river Niger should better leave now because we will not spare them”
“Genuine people who use the river are assured of their safety and we
operate round the clock and have intensified security patrol not only
for the yuletide period but beyond” he stated.
On alleged assault of the civilians by his men he reiterated that any
one caught would not be spared adding that he is a good manager when it comes to military/civilian relationship.
The Naval commander commended Gov Willie Obiano for his support to the military in the state especially in crime prevention.
Speaking on the foiled herdsmen/Odekpe clash the President General of Iyiowa Odoekpe,Chief Okoye thanked the commander for his prompt action adding that “he has shown that he is ready for criminals in the area.
Giving a graphic account of how he foiled the herdsmen raid, he said, “the farmers called me and I in turn alerted the commander”.