ANAMBRA, Nigeria — An unassuming bush in Ifite Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, became the center of a significant police operation on Thursday, May 11, 2023, when the Rapid Response Squad, Akwuzu, unearthed a clandestine operation that was manufacturing counterfeit police and army uniforms.
The makeshift factory, cleverly hidden in the foliage, served as both a production site and a hideaway for the criminals, who used the replicated uniforms as a guise to launch attacks on unsuspecting victims.
Items recovered from the site painted a surreal picture of domesticity intertwined with criminal activities.
Among them were a multipurpose sewing machine, ready-to-wear police and military uniforms, everyday food items, and cooking utensils.
The police also found traditional charms believed to be used by the gunmen for protection.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, lauded the discovery as a major stride in the ongoing battle against crime in the state. “This is an unprecedented breakthrough,” he said.
“Following credible information to the Police Command from the residents of Anambra, we have identified some of their criminal hideouts/camps. Today, our operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Akwuzu, stormed one such camp at Ifite, Ogbunike, to rescue two kidnapped victims,” Ikenga stated.
In the ensuing operation, the police neutralized two armed men and recovered a black Lexus SUV brimming with counterfeit security uniforms. Ikenga added, “The hoodlums had apparently relocated to Ogbunike after their previous hideouts in Lilu and Orsumoghu bushes in Ihiala Local Government were discovered and disrupted.”
This discovery is a sobering reminder of the continuous effort required by law enforcement to adapt to the evolving methods of criminals. As the police continue to probe deeper into the matter, the citizens of Anambra State breathe a sigh of relief, bolstered by the knowledge that their safety remains a top priority.
