The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects at a security checkpoint at the Umudioka-Awkuzu Road by Igbariam and recovered one Bereta pistol, two live ammunition and a Toyota Corolla car from them.

In a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad from Enugwu-Ukwu carried out the arrest.

Ikenga said four occupants were in the vehicle when they were ordered to stop for a search, while two alighted and ran away, two others were apprehended.

He said, “Operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad Enugwu-Ukwu, at a security checkpoint on Umudioka-Awkuzu Road by Igbariam on January 25, 2025, by 5.38 pm arrested two out of the four occupants of a white Toyota Corolla vehicle with registration number YAB 26 CB.

“The team also recovered one Barreta pistol, two live ammunition and the Toyota Corolla vehicle.

“The two suspects are Raphael Peverga and Saakura Teryima, both aged 22 years old and from Benue State. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest the other two suspects who are currently on the run.

“It was reported that the suspects alighted from the vehicle while still in motion when the operatives ordered them to park for a security search.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, assured the people that the command would continue to evolve a strategy and improve operational positioning in the state to nip into the bud such criminal elements.

In a separate development, the Anambra State Police Command has raided a criminal hideout at Umudike, Amaokpala in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state and recovered various incriminating items.

In a press statement, Ikenga said during the raid, items recovered included a large quantity of substance suspected to be hard drugs, two mobile phones and N73,150 cash suspected to be proceeds from the sales of the hard drugs.

Ikenga said the joint security team comprising police operatives from Oko Divisional Headquarters and vigilante operatives, acting on intelligence-driven information on January 25, 2025, by 10.30 pm raided a criminal hideout.

He said, “The joint security team comprising of police operatives from Oko Divisional Headquarters and AVG operatives, acting on intelligent-driven information on January 25, 2025 by 10.30pm raided an identified criminal hideout at Umudike, Amaokpala in Orumba North Local Government Area.

“Items recovered during the crackdown include large quantity of substance suspected to be hard drugs, two mobile phones and a cash sum of N73,150 suspected to be proceeds from the sales of the substance.

“The fierce-looking criminals took to their heels on sighting the Joint Security Team and ran into the nearby bushes.”

According to him, the operatives have taken over the scene, destroyed the camp and are on the offensive against the criminals for possible arrest and to make sure they don’t regroup anywhere in the state.

Political activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has raised the alarm that authorities of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) were planning to get him arrested and prosecuted for daring to expose alleged corruption at a checkpoint mounted by Police operatives in Lagos State.

Sowore, founder and two-time presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023 general elections, respectively, said he had been invited by the Police for questioning for posting a viral video of the Police checkpoint on social media.

Taking to his Facebook page on Thursday, Sowore, who is a fiery critic of the government, added that a credible Police source at the hierarchy of the NPF informed him that “charges” to be slammed against him for his actions were being prepared.

He wrote: “I have just concluded a conversation with the senior Nigeria Police Force officer in Abuja, who requested my presence for questioning regarding an extortion video I did at a police “checkpoint” in Lagos, which prompted the police hierarchy to launch a manhunt for me.”

“He informed me that the “charges” are not yet prepared. I am still awaiting,” Sowore added, ending the post with his signature ‘#RevolutionNow’ hashtag.