About 80 persons described as notorious criminals were arrested in the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha.
The suspected criminals are said to be responsible for petty crimes around Upper Iweka, an area noted for a high crime rate in the commercial city of Onitsha.
According to a press release signed by Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the leader of Anambra Youth Volunteers and Anambra North zonal coordinator of Anambra Joint Enforcement Team (ANJET), the effort of the team was motivated by the desire for a crime-free Christmas celebration by the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
A voice note which complained about the activities of criminals in Upper Iweka went viral in the past few weeks. Okpalaezeukwu affirmed that the group moved in after listening to the voice note.
He said: “Going forward, the Anambra Youth Volunteers in collaboration with ANJET and other law enforcement agencies will continue to make Upper Iweka and its environs inhabitable for criminals.
“We have deployed a team of local youth volunteers around the state to support law enforcement agencies with intelligence and enforcement where necessary. We urge Ndi Anambra to support Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s effort to make our homeland liveable and prosperous.”