Kidnapping: Police, Army swoop on Onitsha traders

•Arrest 30

ALPHONSUS NWEZE, Onitsha

There was commotion and stampede at the multi-billion naira Onitsha Main Market as the combined team of police and soldiers last Friday stormed the market, where they arrested no fewer than 30 persons suspected to be criminals.

Eye witness account told Sunday Champion that the security operatives stormed the market in the afternoon to arrest the suspects following a tip-off.

The source said that the armed team which came with Hilux vans went to different lines where the suspects were doing business to pick them up.

Our source said that there was stampede and commotion in the market as the stern-looking armed security men stormed the market and moved to the shops of the suspects.

The Anambra State Police Commissioner, Amusa Bello, who confirmed the arrests, said that his men went to the Onitsha Main Market to arrest some people both males and females based on a tip-off to the police by people.

Although he could not confirm the number, Bello said that a reasonable number of people were arrested during the operation, and they were undergoing interrogation.

He said that he would not confirm that they are robbers or kidnappers until after their interrogation, stating that the State Police Command under his leadership would smoke out criminals in the state wherever they are.

A source however said that the suspects were said to have been those involved in the kidnapping of an Onitsha oil magnet, popularly called ‘Tonimas’, who was said to have paid the kidnappers N50 million but was marked.

Consequently, as they went to deposit the money in the bank, the bank staff alerted the police, who now came, arrested the culprits, who revealed other suspects, resulting in the arrests.

The people of the state have heaved a sigh of relief since Bello took over from Mohammed Abbas weeks ago. He led his men to foil an attempt to rob Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bullion van between Enugu Agidi and Awka, on the Onitsha-Enugu expressway, just few days after he took over.

I believe putting marks on 50 million worth of naira notes was no mean task. Kudos to all those involved. Criminals in Nigeria must be smoked out, and if necesary KILLED, yes, KILLED.

Tonimas??

I know the man was fcking rich but 50 million naira (Goddammm!!!!!!!!