By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
The PG of Aguleri community Assembly, Barr Rolex Iloakasia says a combination of Aguleri, Anambra East and West task force have cleared Mmiata Anam which was likely to be the remaining village that was controlled by suspected Kidnappers and insurgents in Anambra East and West, in it's bid to end armed robbery in Omabala area.
“As the ongoing clearance and rescue operations gained momentum, the joint security team led by Aguleri vigilante group have successfully cleared enclaves of kidnappers at Mmiata Anam which was likely to be the only village that was still occupied by the gang in the entire Anambra west communities".
During the operation, one suspected kidnapper was captured alive, another one died at the spot while others escaped with different degrees of bullet wounds.
According to the report, the Joint taskforce, including Anam vigilante stormed the criminal hide out and opened fire and when the gang was overpowered, they started fleeing from their camp, after sustaining different degrees of injuries. AK47, pump actions, motorcycles, bags of rice, flags and uniforms were also seen in the camp.
Report said when they were overpowered by the joint team, the suspects scattered all over the bushes in the area and Eziagulu Otu Aguleri vigilante group who were alrerted earlier blocked them from escaping through their community and delivered accordingly.
A man who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, that this particular camp at Mmiata Anam had lasted for more than two years. He said the gun men were dumping their victims from other parts of Anambra State in this very camp as a trick to deceive the law enforcement agencies, who never thought of raiding the area since there was no insecurity in the entire Omabala area. "No security suspected a camp in the area. The indigenes were forced to take oaths not to disclose the existence of, Kidnappers camp to the public".
It was revealed that the arrival and establishment of the Umuewelim and Oroma camps 6 months ago exposed this very Mmiata old camp to security agencies.
"While members of the old camp were not terrorizing the Anam indigenes and people living around the community. The new camp that was destroyed yesterday were amateur in their operation. They went into kidnappings in the neighbouring communities around the camp, including busy Aguleri junction. As a result, the indigenes of Aguleri were provoked to strike the criminals".
The captured kidnappers were being interrogated and would soon be handed over to the relevant agencies for possible prosecution.
With the clearance of the Mmiata community which the gang had occupied for years . It is now obvious that the gang had been defeated completely in Anambra East and West communities.