By David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Anambra State police command has arrested
a 26 year-old Army deserter, Ebeje Nnamdi who
went on AWOL(away without leave) from 20
Mechanized Battalion, Taraba State, thast
specialized in training armed robbers.
The Anambra State Police commissioner, Garba
Umar stated this to journalists while parading 30
suspected criminals at the state police
command.
 Umar said Ebeje who trains armed robbers and
kidnappers was trailed and arrested at his
training ground after two of his trainees; Peter
Ali and Ugwuokpe Nnaemeka, members of a six-
man gang that specialise in operating on
motorcycles, robbing fuel stations and killing
policemen were also arrested.
The commissioner said, “We arrested a gang of
armed robbers using two motorcycles led by one
Kenneth Chimezie, age 42, and following
painstaking investigation and intelligence report,
the suspects led police team to their trainers
hideout where we apprehended Ebeje.
“He was found to be a deserter from 20
mechanised battalion in Taraba State, and had
gone on AWOL in 2014. He is aged 26.”
Umar also announced the arrest of another set of
armed robbers; Sunday Chigbo and Onyebuchi
Eweani in Ogidi community who were arrested
with arms and a bag consisting of properties
stolen from their victim.
Three kidnap suspects; Chukwudi Nwabundo,
Obiora Madubueze and Chinaza Udeezue,
members of a kidnap gang were also arrested,
and their victim, John Ifediora of Umuganagu
village in Oyi was rescued.
The command also paraded 22 youths suspected
to be cultists, ranging from 16 to 30 years old
who were rounded up at their meeting ground in
Nnewi, where they converged for initiation. They
include members of Black Axe confraternity,
Junior Vikings Confraternity, Ayees, Aro, Baggar
and 2-2 cult groups.
The commissioner urged members of the public
to feel free to volunteer information to the force
as they would be treated anonymously.
He said the command would continue to fish out
criminal elements in the society to ensure that
the state was free of violent crimes, especially in
the run up to the Anambra governorship election.