By Jake Aimuan
Imo State Police Command has arrested five persons who allegedly attempted to disrupt the reconstruction of Oji divisional police headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, burnt down during the END SARS protests in Nigeria.
The police said that those arrested were among the many hoodlums that allegedly invaded the site of ongoing reconstruction of the Oji Police Station, which was razed by criminals during the nationwide protests in 2020.
Men Who Allegedly Carried Out Attack on Oji Police Station
According to the police, an un-named philiathropist in the area had undertaken to rebuild the station but some hoodlums stormed the site on Tuesday afternoon to halt the work.
A statement by the state police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said that no life was lost during the incident.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, personally led a crack team of policemen to the scene to dislodge the hoodlums following tipoff from a good Samaritan.
However, the hoodlums fled before police reinforcement arrived, abandoning their three vehicles.
The police spokesman said, “On 25th May, 2021 at about 13.02hours (about 1pm), some hoodlums in their numbers launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of Oji Divisional Headquarters, which was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the End SARS protests in 2020.
“The hoodlums, who believed that the re-establishement of a functional police station may prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Oji and environ, decided to invade the construction site.
“Before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighboring township area but abandoned their operational vehicles.”
He however said that the arrests were made after CP Yaro’s team cordoned off the area.
The state PPRO gave the names of the five male suspects who were subsequently nabbed as 26-year old Chigaemezu Sabastine, Casmir Ibe (36 years), John Chinonso (24 years), Chukwudi Okoro (28 years) and Alozie Daberechi, aged 25 years.
Items recovered from the suspects include three vehicles allegedly abandoned by the hoodlums, he said.
“Meanwhile, mop up operation is ongoing to arrest more suspects and recover their firearms”, Ekana further said.
SP Bala Elkana , ANIPR,
Police Public Relations Officer,
For Commissioner of Police,
Imo State.