Fire Ignites Market, Destroy Goods In Anambra 

… Arrests Three Cultists, Freed Boy  Abducted In Onitsha In Kogi 

By Joseph Sunday 

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An unexpected fire outbreak has last night ignited the Ogbosisi market in Anambra State destroying several goods and razing down buildings and warehouses as the officers of the Nigeria Police Force and Fire Service Operatives took over the scene, cordoning facilities  off from the public to prevent possible looting. 

In a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga and made available to newsmen, he confirmed that there has not been any record of lost of life, assuring of the readiness of the Command to begin investigations into the cause of the fire outbreak. 

According to SP Ikenga, he said, the officers of the Anambra State Police Command and the Fire Service Operatives, were able to swiftly respond to the fire outbreak at the Ogbosisi market at around 8:45 pm on Wednesday night, bringing the situation under control. 

Ikenga stated, that, “the reason for the Police and the Fire Service Operatives cordoning off the scene of the incident was to prevent hoodlums from taking undue advantage of the situation to loot properties and goods of individuals in the area”. 

Adding, the Police assured the members of the public that, steps would be taking to ascertain the worth of the goods destroyed.

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Arrests 2 Cultists With 1 Police Accomplice – 

In another development, the Anambra State Police Command has also arrested 2 cultists with 1 Police accomplice, and recovered one automatic pump action gun from them. 

Narrating the circumstances leading to the arrests of the 2 cultists and 1 Police accomplice, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said, “in the early hours of 18th December 2024, the operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad of the Nigerian Police Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State arrested one Chidi Ekwesiri (M) aged 50 years from Umunya, Oyi LGA and two others. They also recovered one automatic pump action gun and a Police uniform from the suspects. 

Explaining further, he said, “the Operatives spotted the suspect while on surveillance patrol along the Onitsha – Enugu Expressway by Unizik Temporary Site. During interrogations, the suspect claimed to be a Sergeant and a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos but later denied his earlier claim. He also confessed that the gun was given to him by a yet to be identified man at Ukpo. 

Ikenga however revealed that the information gathered from the suspects led to the arrest of two other suspects who are currently undergoing Police interrogations as the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a comprehensive investigation, after which the suspects will be charged to Court. 

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Frees Boy Abducted At Onitsha In Kogi – 

The Anambra State Police Command as part of its efforts to fight crime in the State has also freed a boy who was allegedly abducted in Onitsha and found in Kogi State.

According to the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, the Police needs the assistance of the public and Nigerians at large on information that would assist them to identify the boy’s family and unite him back with them. 

Adding, SP Tochukwu Ikenga “called on the general public, particularly residents of Onitsha and Ihiala environs, to assist with the identification of one Mr Chibuike Damian Onyebuchi (M) aged 15 years.  The said boy who hails from Ihiala LGA, Anambra State was abducted in Onitsha but was found recently in Kogi State. He is currently in the Safe Custody of the Kogi State Police Command”. 

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During an interview with Damian by the Police Operatives, he alleged that he was abducted in Onitsha by unidentified persons and taken to an unknown place before his escape. 

The Command however seeks the assistance of the public, especially journalists to help disseminate widely alongside with the attached picture for possible identification and re-unification with his family. 

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