By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a man, Okechukwu Igwegbe, after allegedly finding a pump-action gun and 11 live cartridges in his possession at Uruagu, Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, however, has declined to make any statement to investigators about the firearm, thereby leaving the Police to explore other lawful means of determining where the weapon and ammunition came from and whether they might be connected to any criminal activity in the past.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka on Saturday, saying Igwegbe was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Tactical Team following credible intelligence.
Ikenga said the operation was led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Ezekiel Imoh, and resulted in the recovery of the pump-action firearm and the 11 cartridges, which have since been taken into police custody as exhibits.
According to the Police spokesman, the suspect has refused to provide information on the source of the weapon or explain the circumstances surrounding his possession of it. He said the Police, however, would not resort to coercion to obtain a statement from him.
Rather, Ikenga said investigators would use available evidence and other lawful investigative procedures to unravel the circumstances surrounding the firearm, including forensic examination and ballistic tracing where applicable.
He added that investigators would also verify the recovered ammunition, review intelligence available to the Command, speak with people who may have useful information and follow other leads that could establish the movement and possible use of the firearm.
Ikenga stressed that the suspect’s refusal to speak would not stop the investigation, noting that the Police would respect his right to remain silent and other constitutional and legal safeguards while working to establish the facts of the case.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, according to the statement, commended the Tactical Team for acting on the intelligence that led to the arrest and recovery.
Oji Ama directed the investigators to establish the origin of the firearm and ammunition and determine whether other individuals or networks were involved in their possession, movement or supply.
The Commissioner also reaffirmed the Command’s effort to check the circulation of illegal firearms and ammunition across Anambra through intelligence-led policing, while urging residents to continue supplying security agencies with credible information that could assist in preventing crime.
