The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old man, Chidi Ekwesiri, for impersonating a police sergeant.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday 18th December 2024, also resulted in the apprehension of two suspected cultists.
A statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad apprehended Ekwesiri and the two other suspects during a surveillance patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway near the Unizik temporary site.
During questioning, Ekwesiri initially claimed to be a Sergeant in the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos but subsequently retracted his statement. He confessed to receiving a pump-action shotgun from an unidentified individual in Ukpo.
Further investigation based on Ekwesiri’s information led to the arrest of the two other suspects.
The statement read: “In the early hours of today 18th December 2024, Operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad of the Nigerian Police Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State arrested one Chidi Ekwesiri (M) aged 50 years from Umunya, Oyi LGA and two others. They also recovered one automatic pump action gun and a Police uniform from the suspects.
“The Operatives spotted the suspect while on surveillance patrol along the Onitsha – Enugu Expressway by Unizik Temp Site. During interrogations, the suspect claimed to be a Sergeant and a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos but later denied his earlier claim. He also confessed that the gun was given to him by a yet to be identified man at Ukpo.
“Further information from the suspect led to the arrest of two other suspects who are currently undergoing Police interrogation.
Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a thorough investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the suspects will be brought before the court.
