Vigilante group arrests 40 suspected criminals in Anambra

THE Chairman of the Anambra Vigilance Group (AVG), Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, has said that the security outfit had arrested 40 suspected criminals in the state between January and September this year.

Mr Aduba, a retired Commissioner of Police, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State Capital.

He said the group also recovered weapons including locally-made guns, machetes and speedboats from the criminals during the period.

He said other items recovered from the criminals included six plasma television sets, two musical sets, one generating set and four computer devices.

Aduba said the effective collaboration of vigilantes and the Police Command in the state had ensured the safety of the residents and their property.

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The AVG boss said his group had about 9, 000 operatives at the grassroots who provided information that enhanced the efficiency of other state security agents.

“AVG is a product of Anambra Vigilance Law 2014/2015 and we collaborate very effectively with the Nigeria police.

“The success story of security in Anambra cannot be told completely without mentioning what the AVG has done; we have been able to provide information and also arrest criminals.

“From 2017 Christmas till now, we have arrested more than 40 die-hard criminals and handed all of them over to the police for prosecution.

“Gov Willie Obiano has taken security and AVG in particular very seriously and with his support, AVG is one of the most vibrant and proactive in the country today.

“Anambra is calm and we commend the police and all the security agencies in the state for their roles in that achievement,” he said.

Aduba, who is also Senior Special Adviser to Obiano on Vigilance Matters, noted the ban on commercial motorcycle operation in Onitsha and Awka had further reduced crime rate in the state.