 in Anambra State have successfully dismantled a suspected criminal){kind=link}
Security operatives under the Police-led Joint Task Force (JTF) in Anambra State have successfully dismantled a suspected criminal hideout located in Agulu-Ezechukwu, Aguata Local Government Area.
The operation, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, resulted in the death of one armed suspect and the recovery of various suspected stolen items.
Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed the details of the raid in a press statement issued Friday in Awka, the state capital.
According to him, the operation was the result of a coordinated effort involving personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Anambra Vigilante Group.
The task force reportedly stormed the suspected criminal enclave and engaged the occupants in a fierce gun battle that lasted for approximately seven hours. Following the sustained firefight, one suspected armed hoodlum was neutralized, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
The operatives subsequently overran the camp and set it ablaze to prevent its reuse as a base for future criminal activities.
Recovered from the scene were multiple items believed to be stolen or used in illegal operations. These included an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number EKY 03 FF, a white unregistered Mazda Hilux, a motorcycle, and various mechanical tools.
In addition, law enforcement officials found an assortment of household and kitchen items such as mattresses, pots, gallons, groceries, clothing, and other materials suspected to be linked to criminal activities.
Superintendent Ikenga emphasized that the operation was part of the ongoing efforts by the Anambra State Police Command and its security partners to rid the state of criminal elements and restore public confidence.
He noted that the intensity of the encounter and the subsequent raid underscored the commitment of the security forces to respond decisively to threats in the region.
“Our operatives have continued to comb the area and its surroundings, following visible blood trails in search of fleeing suspects,” he stated, assuring the public that no stone will be left unturned in tracking down other members of the gang.
The Anambra State Police Command also urged residents of the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency. The joint task force reiterated its dedication to protecting lives and property while working to dismantle criminal networks operating in the state.