UPSURGE IN CRIME: Ikpeazu promises N1m reward for whistleblowers

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—FOLLOWING the new upsurge of violent crimes, especially kidnapping in Abia State, particularly in Aba and its  environs, Governor  Okezie Ikpeazu has introduced a reward system to tackle crime  as he announced a N1 Million reward for useful information to track down criminals in the State.

Ikpeazu also announced that the N1 million reward would be extended to any security team that arrests heinous criminals just as he appealed to residents of Aba and the state at large to partner with government and security agencies by providing useful information that would help in dislodging the criminals.

Governor Ikpeazu also identified cross border criminals from neighbouring states and local gangs as being responsible for the new wave of armed robbery and kidnapping in Aba, vowing that “all criminal elements will be taken to justice or chased out of Aba and Abia state within a very short time”.

He promised to re-launch “Operation Jubilee” with additional mobile police officers and soldiers to fish out and punish criminals. He said   the state is ready to procure additional 10 vehicles and body armor equipment to enhance the operational efficiency of security agents in the state.

Ikpeazu also commended security agencies in the state for “making Easter Sunday and Monday black days for some of the men of the underworld at Aba who met their waterloo”, saying that those criminals captured alive were already giving useful information to the police that would help security agents to arrest their fleeing colleagues.

“I have taken a look at the criminal records of the state in the last 10 years and came to understand that it is always on the high side during the rains and since the rains started early this year, we have decided to change our pattern of fighting crimes.

“I have also noticed that because of the porous border we have with some neighboring states,  anything that happens in their states has a spill-over effect in our state and this has made us to change our strategy in crime fighting.

“In that effect, we have decided to re-launch ‘Operation Jubilee’ which will soon take off with 300 men and we are going to equip them with all necessary logistics to do their work well, including 10 new vehicles for their take off”, the governor said

Ikpeazu assured that all information to the dedicated special phone number and email address to be given to the public would be treated with strict confidentiality and the informant rewarded immediately.

 

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