By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) attached to the Anambra State Police Command have recovered two AK-47 rifle magazines, 60 rounds of live ammunition and other police-related items during a raid on a suspected cultists’ hideout in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the recovery in a statement issued to newsmen, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed that the operation formed part of the Command’s sustained offensive against cultism and other violent crimes across the state.
According to the police spokesman, the operatives carried out the intelligence-led raid on the evening of June 20 at a notorious black spot on Nwaziki Street, Awada, long suspected to be a hideout for cult-related activities.
Although no arrest was made during the operation, SP Ikenga said the raid yielded two AK-47 magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and other police-related items believed to be of investigative value.
He explained that investigations had already commenced to identify the fleeing suspects, establish ownership of the recovered exhibits and unravel any criminal network connected with the items recovered from the hideout.
Commending the operatives for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, described the recovery as another commendable outcome of the Command’s intelligence-driven policing strategy.
The Police Commissioner, according to the statement, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain aggressive raids on criminal hideouts and black spots across the state in order to dismantle criminal gangs and improve public safety.
SP Ikenga added that the Police Command remains committed to taking the fight against cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities to every part of the state through proactive operations and credible intelligence gathering.
