- 33 suspects arraigned for cultism
The Anambra State Police Command said it had secured the conviction of the two robbers arrested on the Second Niger Bridge a couple of weeks ago.
The robbers who were arrested on the bridge with two daggers and five sim cards removed from the phones of their victims pleaded guilty when arraigned in court.
This was disclosed in a statement by the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, issued to journalists on Sunday.
Ikenga said both accused persons were sentenced to five years jail terms on each of the first two counts, and three years imprisonment for the third count, adding that the sentences which are without an option of a fine are to run concurrently.
He said, “In compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, detectives worked on the sim cards and traced two of the victims, one of whom is a lawyer.
“The victims cooperated with investigation and evidence gathered was presented before the court. Both accused persons were sentenced to five years jail terms on each of the first two counts, and 3 years imprisonment for the third count.
“The sentences which are without an option of fine are to run concurrently. The convicts have been remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Centre to serve their jail terms.”
He added that the CP advised youths to learn lessons from this conviction and shun crime in order not to jeopardise their future.
In a similar development, the state police command has also arraigned 33 suspected cultists in court for sundry criminal charges in the wake of a new crackdown ordered by the CP.
Ikenga said the suspected cultists who were arraigned in two batches of nine and 24 were charged with membership of unlawful societies, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession and use of hard drugs and other psychotropic substances.
“Several suspects are still being held in custody and investigation into various murders committed by suspected cultists is still ongoing.
“The Commissioner of Police has reiterated his stand that there will be no sacred cow in the new offensive against cultists.”
Ikenga added, “He said the Command will never compromise the ongoing investigation and anyone indicted by evidence will be brought to book no matter how highly placed.”
