A joint security operation within the Okigwe axis of Imo State is said to have dislodged a criminal hideout in Aku, Okigwe LGA, in a recent operation jointly carried out by various security agencies, including the police, the army, DSS, Navy, and Nigeria Civil Defense.
In a statement issued to journalists from the desk of the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye informed that the operation was carried out following recent civil unrest orchestrated by some criminal elements terrorizing the area.
According to the statement, in the wake of the operation, the State Police Commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, alongside other service commanders, urged residents to continue offering actionable intelligence to aid the ongoing security operations, which the command spokesperson stated aimed at targeting criminal elements in the state.
ASP Okoye further informed that chief security heads of the various outfits had, on December 3, visited the area to assess the progress of the joint security efforts in clearing areas he described as a notorious hideout in Aku, Okigwe.
“The visit included Brigadier General U.A. Lawal, Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade in Obinze, Commander Naval Base, Oguta, the Director of DSS, the Honourable Commissioner for Homeland Security, Modestus Osakwe, and the SSA to the Governor on Security Affairs.
“The purpose was to evaluate the progress of the ongoing operation and boost the morale of the joint security forces, which include operatives of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police, DSS, and NSCDC,” he stated.
The Police Public Relations Officer narrated that the operation, which has been underway for several weeks, has successfully dismantled a significant base used by the criminal group in launching violent attacks on innocent citizens and security personnel.
He maintained that the operation, which he described as a major breakthrough, has led to the arrest of key suspects and has significantly improved security in the state.
Okoye further stated that during the visit, the SSA to the Governor on Security Affairs, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ogbonna (Rtd.), encouraged the people of Aku to return to their community and cooperate with security agencies, assuring them of the government’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics for their safety.
In the same vien, the CP and Brigadier General Lawal also stressed the importance of public cooperation to ensure the continued success of the operation and reaffirmed the security agencies’ dedication to maintaining peace and safety across the state.
“The visit by key security commanders in the state highlights the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and restore peace in the state. Their collective presence at the joint security operation in Aku underscores the seriousness with which authorities are addressing security challenges in the state,” Okoye further stated.
Joint security operation dismantles criminal hideout in Imo
