Imo State Police Command yeaterday in Owerri, arrested
Mr. Okechukwu Okorocha, the Senior Special Adviser, SSA,
on Security Matters, to Governor Rochas Okorocha, for
allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition apparently for
the purpose of disrupting election in the State.
Similarly, four members of Imo Security Network, ISN, a
security contraption established by the Rochas Okorocha
administration, are also cooling their heels in police cells for
the same offence.
Parading the suspects before newsmen at the State Police
Headquarters, Owerri, the Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Austin Evbakhavbokun, said that the arrest of the security
aide and ISN personnel, followed a tip off.
“The arrest of the SSA and the illegal security personnel
followed a very reliable tip off and subsequent search
operation conducted by the State Criminal Investigation
Department, SCID, at his house and premises led to the
recovery of the arms and ammunitions”, the CP said.
The Imo Police boss, who spoke through Public Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy
superintendent of police, DSP, disclosed that “in the course
of the operation, the police recovered three pump action
automatic rifles, 24 life cartridges and a Ken WalkieTalkie”.
Continuing, the CP said that in a similar operation at the
security post of Imo Security Network at Egbeada Housing
Estate, on the outskirts of Owerri Municipality, apprehended
four members of Okorocha’s ISN, as well as recovered three
automatic pump action riffles and 14 live cartridges.
He gave the names of the suspects as Kelechi Onuoha,
Chigozie Uzowuru, Osita Obiako and Aka Linus.
On why the Okorocha men were stockpiling arms and
ammunitions, the CP said it was aimed at disrupting the
general elections in the state.
Answering a question, the CP recalled that soon after
assuming office in Imo, he issued a warning that all
unapproved security outfits should surrender their arms to
the Police.
“The arrest of the suspects was in order, considering the
time for the general election scheduled to begin today”, the
CP said.
Speaking to newsmen, the SSA to the Governor explained
that before his arrest, he had asked his men to surrender
their arms for onward submission to the police, adding that
since his directive, he had surrendered a number of arms to
the police, which is in their inventory.
“I was surprised to see arms recovered in one of my rooms.
The recovered arms may be the ones ISN members could
not return earlier before I traveled”, Mr. Okorocha said.
He further explained that before now, his men had been
working closely with the police, adding that Imo Security
Network has contributed in the reduction of kidnapping in
the state.
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